Why speed restrictions remain on M6
HIGHWAYS bosses have explained why speed restrictions remain on the new ‘smart motorway’ stretch despite the works being finished.
The multi-million pound works on the busy 14-mile stretch of the M6, between junctions 2 (A46 Coventry) and 4 (M42 (S)/A46), finished on Friday, March 20.
But the 60mph speed restrictions remain in place.
A reader contacted us to voice their confusion.
“Since the M6 road works finished in March as promised,” the reader said.
“The smart motorway past Coventry from junction 2 to 4 has displayed the 60 mph limit constantly for three weeks now.
“At the moment there is very little traffic. Why, after two years of roadworks misery, is the speed limit still the same on four lanes of empty motorway?”
Highways England and a spokesperson explained the situation.
A Highways England spokesperson said: “We’re keeping a temporary speed limit in place on both sides of the road while we test some technology that we’ve put in place on the main carriageway during this upgrade work.
“While we carry out the testing phase, we have opened all four lanes on the motorway to help traffic flows and we’ll look to increase to the national speed limit once it is safe to do so.
“We know that roadworks affect all journeys which is why it is important they are completed as quickly as possible.”
Now completed, the new-look stretch of the busy M6 features:
Three controlled motorway lanes, retaining the hard shoulder from J3a to J4 where the motorway will tie into the existing controlled motorway
A four-lane smart motorway between J2 to J3a with a hard shoulder next to the current ‘climbing lane’ travelling eastbound
Installation of new electronic information signs and signals, radar detection and CCTV cameras - these will be used to vary speed limits which allow management.
The work is set to ensure that congestion from accidents on the M6 no longer spillls out into nearby Coventry and Nuneaton and Bedworth.