Transport leaders hold talks with M6 Toll operator of the road’s emergency use

TRANSPORT leaders have held talks with the operator of the M6 Toll over ways of making better use of the region’s motorway network.

The meeting between delegates from the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) and Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL) follows growing calls that greater use should be made of the privately owned motorway, especially when the toll-free network is congested or inaccessible due to an accident.

The move was one of the recommendations to arise from a hearing convened by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson into the delays in reopening the M6 following a fatal accident near Birmingham last month.

The motorway was closed for almost 24 hours while repairs were carried out to the northbound carriageway between junctions five and six. Traffic was diverted through Birmingham city centre causing major delays, at a cost of around £40m to the region’s economy.

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The ITA delegation – made up of the leaders of the seven local authorities of the West Midlands – discussed the situation with Andy Pearson, chief executive of MEL, and James Hodson, the company’s director of motorway operations.

Cllr Roger Lawrence, the leader of Wolverhampton Council and chairman of the ITA, said: “This was an extremely positive and useful meeting.
 
“The M6 Toll is an important part of the regional motorway infrastructure and the ITA looks forward to future meetings with MEL to establish even better ways of working together.”
 
Mr Pearson added: “I am delighted to be in positive dialogue with the ITA and it is clear from this initial discussion that there are a number of opportunities which we can look at together to improve traffic flow through the West Midlands.
 
“We need to make a joint assessment of how much traffic could realistically be assisted by using the M6 Toll when there is an incident on the M6.
 
“One key area to be looked at in the short-term is improved signage to give people clear information during an incident.”
 
He said he thought signage could be improved substantially for normal traffic situations as well to ensure that the M6 Toll is more fully integrated into the regional road network in order to give people better information and choice.

MEL operates 27-mile toll route on behalf of its owners – Macquarie Atlas Roads and an international consortium of lenders since a major debt restructuring move in 2013. The road was put up for sale last month but a deal has yet to be completed.