Submitted 12th October 2005
Popularity 501
The M6 Toll is the most exciting development in British transport history for many years. Since the M6 Toll road is now the key strategic route through the West Midlands
Overview
The M6 Toll is the most exciting development in British transport history for many years. Since the M6 Toll road opened in December 2003, it has grown from strength to strength and is recognised to be a key strategic route through the West Midlands.
A motorway built out of need
M6 Toll's origins stretch back to 1980, when the government realised for the first time, the need to ease congestion through the West Midlands conurbation. The M6 was built to carry just 72,000 vehicles a day, but today has to cope with up to 145,000.
The early suggestion was to widen the current M6 but part of the M6 is built on a viaduct, so this wasn't realistic. After much public consultation, the decision was taken to build a new motorway. This was to follow existing roads: the A5, A38 and A446, all of which would also benefit from reduced congestion.
In 1991, the Government decided the M6 Toll would be a privately funded venture. Midland Expressway competed for and were awarded the concession to run the M6 Toll for 53 years to 2054. The road actually opened 6 weeks early on 9 December 2003.
By passing one of Europe's most congested motorways - where does the M6 toll run?
The M6 Toll runs from junction 3a on the M6 and arcs around the north-east of the West Midlands conurbation rejoining the M6 at 11a. It therefore links the M6 and M42 to the south of Birmingham and the M6 north of Birmingham, while bypassing the most congested section of the M6 which runs past Birmingham.
BenefitsThe M6 Toll relieves the M6 of volume which, in turn, relieves the local transport network and reduces congestion in towns and villages. Reliable journey times reduce stress on motorists which, in turn, reduces the risk of accidents
Safety InformationThe (DfT) suggests accidents on motorway may be attributed to driver fatigue and high quantities of traffic. The DfT found that on congested motorways, the accident rate is nearly twice that of the rate on a non-congested route
EnvironmentThe following measures were taken to minimise the environmental impact. 2 million tonnes of topsoil was put aside for reuse. 3 million tonnes of sand and gravel were recycled for use in drainage material and concrete for bridges and road surfaces
Industrial SitesThe system of canals in the United Kingdom played an important part in the transition from a largely agricultural land to an industrial one and is of considerable historical interest. There are a number of canals in the area of M6 Toll.
Using m6 TollYou can join the M6 Toll at various junctions along the road; pay on exit, or pay at one of main line Toll Plaza stations, which is across the whole motorway at 2 points along the 27 mile route- at Great Wyrley (northbound) & Weeford Park (soundbound)
Maps & RoutesThe M6 Toll from the south join at either junction 7a of the M42 or junction 3a of the M6. From the north you can join at junction 11a of the M6. The route that the M6 toll follows is that of the existing road corridors of the A5, A38 and A446
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