M42 J10 / A5 Roadworks to Finally Begin
The ‘Months of Misery’ expected for commuters is now due to begin this week following a month of delays.
The works, which are set to improve the J10, M42 and the A5 island and were originally due to start Monday 3rd February, lasting until June. The delays are believed to be caused by the adverse weather throughout the region. This means the work will now run until around the end of July.
A sign at the location now states that the work will begin this Saturday, 8 March and last for around 18 weeks.
What are the roadworks for?
The carriageway will be widened and new traffic signals will be installed at the un-signalled entrances to the island. These works are part of a national programme to improve access to and from certain parts of the trunk road and motorway network.
The scheme is one of the Highways Agency pinch point programme (PPP) schemes. The pinch point programme has been designed by the Highways Agency to deliver improvements to strategic road on the networks that will help to stimulate growth in the local economy and relieve congestion and/or improve safety.
Jess Kenny, project sponsor for the scheme, said:
“The work will provide benefits for all road users using this busy junction.“By increasing lane capacity, congestion will be reduced and journey times will improve for motorists.
“Safety is a top priority for the Highways Agency and this scheme will also deliver enhanced crossing points for pedestrians.”
Diversions
The following Diversions will be in place at various times throughout the works between 830pm and 6am:
Diversion route 1 – Trinity Road
The diversion route will redirect vehicles via A5-A38- A446-A4097-Piccadilly Way-Trinity Road and vice versa. The length of the direct route to be closed is 1.1 km. The length of the diversion route is approximately 35km.
Diversion route 2 – M42 junction 10 southbound entry slip road
The diversion route will re-route vehicles wishing to use the M42 junction 10 southbound exit slip to the northbound exit slip and up to junction 11 where they will be re-routed back onto the M42 southbound. The length of the diversion route is approximately 24km total.
Diversion route 3 – M42 junction 10 northbound exit slip road
The diversion route will re-route vehicles wishing to use the M42 junction 10 northbound off slip up to junction 11 where they will be re-routed back onto the M42 southbound and back to junction 10 The length of the diversion route is approximately 24km total.
Diversion route 4 – M42 junction 10 northbound entry slip road
The diversion route will re-route vehicles wishing to use the M42 junction 10 northbound on slip to the southbound on slip and down to junction 9 where they will be re-routed back onto the M42 northbound The length of the diversion route is approximately 19km total.
M42 – A5
It is anticipated that the works adjacent to the M42 Northbound off slip and A5 will be undertaken using lane closures rather than full closures of these links.
Why is this happening and what will it cost?
The junction suffers from congestion, particularly during morning and evening peak travel times. Queuing and delay occurs on most approaches to this roundabout and there are safety issues for traffic entering the roundabout from the two un-signalised approaches at Trinity Road and Green Lane.
The cost for the scheme is: £3,007,107.
How will the scheme be carried out?
They will carry out the works using lane closures and carriageway closures. Work will take place between 8pm and 6 am nightly.
Main plan of work
- Install traffic signals on the Green Lane and Trinity Road approaches and adjacent roundabout.
- Widen the carriageway opposite the A5 eastbound entry to the roundabout.
- Widen the carriageway at the Trinity Road approach.
- Install Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation (MOVA) traffic levels detection system for all signals on the junction.
- Install tactile paving at the pedestrian crossing points to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and improve safety for pedestrians.
- Widen the carriageway on the M42 South approach, A5 West exit and A5 West approach.
What are the benefits?
This pinch point scheme has been designed to produce a much more beneficial road network for its users in terms of safety and journey time reliability. The proposed improvements will reduce traffic congestion and provide journey time savings in peak periods. The reduction of traffic delays will also have benefits for the environment as free flowing vehicles produce less emissions than slow moving or queuing vehicles, which will result in reductions in concentrations of atmospheric pollutants and improve air quality.
Other benefits include:
- Support the creation of 2,250 jobs and 1,685 homes by 2020
- Support movements to major gateways, such as Birmingham International Airport
- Help to reduce daily congestion
Reduce journey times for the travelling public - Boost the economy
- Improved safety
ive told the wife to just avoid this junction @ all costs!… Drive down to Jct 9 if u need the m42!!
theres nout wrong with it bloody tamworth just like spendin money
It’s nothing to do with Tamworth, it’s Highways.
I have to go this way to go to birch coppice….have no idea If I will be able to get to it…..
my hubby too hes biking across the field thro birchmoor but where the hell hell take his lorry when he gets to work at 4.30/5 am i dont know? my daughter works at lea marston theyve shut haunch lane j9 at that end at night and now j10
and a5 centurion we live in stonydelph she cant drive to appleby and come bk to go there it wont be worth going to work!
The diversions they recommend are nothing short of ridiculous. They must have been planned by a complete fool!
And if stupid HS2 goes ahead they will have to move the junction and mess everything up again!
It’s a bit out way but u can get to birch coppice via woodend
U can go to polesworth then up to dordon island then back upto Birch Coppice, or failing that if u need to get to work at the Coppice then they’ll more than likely let u thru
Ric I doubt very much they will all just down tools and re open the road for you if you say you work at Birch Coppice. Diversions are diversions. Not just for tube select few!
If you have to go from the a4097 to J10 m42, these works are needed, as currently come rush hour there is always a massive queue of cars trying to get onto the island with no traffic lights. Part of the works is to install lights at this point to ease congestion. I appreciate it’s a pain in the tonsils whilst the roadworks are going on (which I think they are trying to do of a night time but I may be wrong on that one!) but there are some rat runs you can use to circumvent them (eg from Stonydelph to Lea Marston why not go through Wilnecote and Hockley, out through Wood End and Hurley through to Lea Marston via Whitacre Heath). Hope this helps x
It will turn into many years of misery if HS2 goes ahead
Works are taling place from 8pm to 6am so shouldn’t be too bad.
It’s going to b a pain for those who start work early tho
Loads of shift workers will be effected… Not everyone works 9-5. I start work at 4.30am for a large company at Birch Coppice
Am I misreading this, but surely the Trinity Road diversion is going to cause mayhem? It should all depend on which side of the Piccadilly Railway bridge you need to be? Sending TNT lorries on that long diversion won’t work, as they could just go via Wood End or Hockley? Or an I missing something?
Shouldn’t be a problem if you’ve got some local knowledge, there are ways around this without having to go near J10
If it’s to put traffic lights at the kingsbury/piccadilly junction then hurrah bring it on!!!! I hate trying to pull out of there, queue forever and run for my life every morning!
What is the point in this, in 5-10years time the island wont be there, they will be a train line!
Iv got my alternative route sussed but will try this first
Can I approach from stoneydelph and go on to birch coppice without having to divert
M42 – A5
It is anticipated that the works adjacent to the M42 Northbound off slip and A5 will be undertaken using lane closures rather than full closures of these links.
We’ll see, what they say and do. If I get down there and have to divert I wont be best pleased lol
HS2 won’t affect it as that gos though jct9 and then up past Middleton to Lichfield
The HS2 line splits into a Y shape after J9 so one line does come up last J10 and straight through what is currently the Moto Services
Doesn’t bode well that the start is delayed!!
Why are they wasting all this money on a junction that will according to the plans have to be knocked down and rebuilt to make way for the hs2 line??
Is this what caused the power cuts tonight?
Totally agree with Simon Bartley too. Makes no sense!!!
Don’t think so Louise.
And they will do all this only for it to be knocked down to make way for hs2
Nightmare for Tamworth Traffic from day then!
“: #M42 J10 … - http://t.co/Rr2qF81PZG #Delays http://t.co/BrTQ6P2qc0”
hs2 wont happen… loool… just wait till next may