M42 junction 6

We are making safety and capacity improvements to this important strategic route to support economic growth and planned development in the region.

Start date Started

End date 2024-25

Cost £282 million

Latest updates

21 August 2020

Scheme running to schedule

We’re working hard to deliver this vital upgrade of the junction and we’re committed to opening this scheme to traffic in 2024 within our original timeframe, which is what we have always been working towards. Once this scheme is complete, it will support economic growth and alleviate congestion by making journeys smoother for motorists.
22 May 2020

Development consent order - granted on 21 May 2020

The M42 Junction 6 Development Consent Order (DCO) on 21 May 2020 was granted consent by the Secretary of State.

This is great news for this scheme near Solihull as it means we can start to make safety and capacity improvements to this important strategic route which, once complete, will support economic growth and planned development in the region.

Further details on the: Order (DCO as Made by the Secretary of State); Secretary of State Decision Letter; Recommendation Report; and Notification of decision letter; can be found on the Planning Inspectorate website for the scheme.
02 March 2020
Construction to start later this year

We’ll be starting main construction on this scheme later this year. We’ve already carried out some preliminary work earlier this year in readiness of the Development Consent Order being granted.

We have successfully completed demolition of Heath End House on the B4438 Catherine-de-Barnes Lane (Bickenhill, Solihull) and carried out vegetation clearance in Bickenhill, beside the A45 Coventry Road and near Haven Caravan Park. We are continuing with the planned activities and in the coming weeks we will be working on:
- near to Haven Caravan Park on the B4438 Catherine-de-Barnes Lane (Bickenhill, Solihull)
- on the B4438 Catherine-de-Barnes Lane (Bickenhill, Solihull) carrying out investigation and survey work
- along the A45 Coventry Road carrying out investigation and survey works
- undertaking various ecology surveys and the establishment of baseline noise levels in areas where future construction work is planned

See more updates

Project information

Currently, congestion and journey reliability issues are a significant constraint to future investment and economic growth. The junction has almost reached capacity, causing severe congestion and delays across the network. Junction 6 does not have sufficient capacity to accommodate predicted traffic growth beyond 2019 – even without the inclusion of HS2 – if we do not act.

We will construct a new 2.4km dual carriageway link road – aligned to the west of Bickenhill – between the A45 Clock Interchange. We’ll also build a new junction 5A on the M42 motorway approximately 1.8km south of the existing M42 Junction 6 (Solihull).

We’ll also be making journeys smoother and more reliable by building a new junction 5A on the M42 motorway which is located approximately 1.8km south of the existing M42 Junction 6 (Solihull).

And two new roundabouts will also be installed north of B4102 Solihull Road that will be positioned either side of the M42 motorway. Pedestrians will also benefit from the scheme with a new overbridge being put in place above the A45 near to the Arden Hotel.

Once complete motorists will benefit from smoother journeys and the work will support economic growth.

The objectives of the scheme are to:

ensure the safe and reliable operation of the road network
increase the capacity at junction 6, reducing congestion
improve access to key businesses and locations such as Birmingham Airport and support economic growth in the area
improve access for cyclists, walkers and other vulnerable users of the network

Further consultation - September 2018

Statutory public consultation - January 2018

Public consultation - December 2016