Drone pictures reveal huge transformation of M6 Junction 10 amid £78m upgrade

Aerial photographs have been released, revealing the scope of the transformation of the upgrade of Junction 10 of the M6 in Walsall.

The £78million upgrade began in early 2020, aimed at tackling the congestion problems around the adjoining Black Country Route.

LRS are delighted to have provided Land Referencing Services to this project.

The M6 junction 10 was identified with significant congestion and traffic delays, particularly during morning and evening peak times.

Road capacity problems were identified as one of the main transport issues facing the Black Country.

Progress

The images, captured by drone earlier this month, show the scale of the progress. This includes the approaching roads also being widened to better manage the volume of traffic.

Two 50-year-old motorway bridges have been replaced with bridges with increased lane capacity from two to four.

Five huge gantries have also been installed over the roundabout. In addition, improvements include the motorway slip road and on the A454 approaching the junction, housing signage and technology.

Building works and machinery have been removed with a green landscape, complete with two new drainage ponds in its place.

Temporary

Temporary signals have been removed and permanent traffic lights are now in place.

It comes as National Highways announced that the traffic control measures need to remain in place for longer. This is to allow crews to carry out further work on the junction's bridges. However, National Highways still remains positive the project will be completed by Spring 2024 next year.

National Highways Programme Manager, Ashfaq Hussain, said: "We are determined to ensure a minimum 120-year life span for these bridges so it is important that all of the work is carried out to the highest specification.

“We are carrying out some further work which will delay the opening of all four lanes. [National Highways] take our responsibilities to road users very seriously and every scheme is subject to comprehensive reviews, checks and monitoring.”

National Highways Programme Manager, Ashfaq Hussain, said:

“We are determined to ensure a minimum 120-year life span for these bridges so it is important that all of the work is carried out to the highest specification.

“We are carrying out some further work which will delay the opening of all four lanes. [National highways] take our responsibilities to road users very seriously and every scheme is subject to comprehensive reviews, checks and monitoring.”