DRIVERS who use the M42 and M40 near Birmingham and the M6 at Coventry will have to take the long way around when major improvements to the roads begin.
Highways England has planned a number of projects in the area which will take place over the next five years.
This includes a scheme to change Junction 2 to 4 of the M6, between Coventry and Birmingham, which is currently in the design stage.
There are plans for works to begin in September this year and it is hoped it will be completed by Autumn 2018.
The scheme is aiming to convert the existing hard shoulder into a permanent running land and install the relevant technology to run variable speed limits and other traffic flow measures.
There may also be some additional works carried out around Junction 4 to prepare the site for future works.
Consultants have also recently been given the go-ahead to start identifying different options for potential developments to help improve the flow of traffic near Junction 6 of the M42.
It is hope it will help the see the volume of traffic in nearby roads increased. More information on this will be released within the first half of 2016.
Works to the M42/M40 interchange to relieve congestion and the flow of traffic will also likely begin by the end of March 2020.
This will give drivers better access to the A45, Birmingham Airport and the new High Speed 2 railway station.
Consultants are also looking at options for the A46 Coventry Junctions Scheme – information about this will hopefully be released in the first half of 2016.
A Highway England spokesman said a web page dedicated to the works where residents in the area can have their say on the improvements will soon be opened.
Visit www.highways.gov.uk/roads for the latest details. Live updates regarding the closures will be added when construction begins.
