Highways England M40/M42 Interchange Scheme – survey works from 9 November 2020

Details of overnight survey work due to start, which bmJV are carrying out the above scheme on behalf of Highways England

M40/M42 Interchange: smart motorway survey work

The M40/M42 interchange is very important for local traffic and forms an important route for long-distance traffic travelling between London and Scotland. Congestion already occurs frequently at peak times at the interchange.

We’re upgrading the M40/M42 Interchange to a smart motorway to reduce congestion and improve journey times. We will shortly start some overnight survey work to gather information to inform the final design of the scheme.

 What are we doing?

We’ll be carrying out a number of different surveys including; checking drainage systems, existing buried services locations, drilling carriageway core samples and  doing ecology inspections on both carriageways in the area highlighted below. We’ll also need to carry out vegetation clearance in some isolated areas to help us access safely while we carry out the surveys.

 We’ll work overnight when we know the road will be at its quietest, between 9 November 2020 and April 2021.

We’re following the latest government guidelines and will incorporate any new measures, including social distancing guidance, into our safe workplace planning.

All our sites have strict safeguarding measures to prevent the spread of COVID19 and none of our sites are open to the public. All major construction projects are closely monitored, and the situation is kept under constant review.

How will the survey work affect residents, businesses and motorists?

To carry out the surveys safely, we’ll need to close some lanes (in 4km sections at a time) but will keep one lane open Monday to Saturday between 9pm and 6am. We’ll be carrying out a ‘traffic count’ before we close the lanes and if the traffic levels are too high, we will delay the work until traffic levels are suitable.

However, we will need some closures of the M42 junction 3a link roads in January and February 2021 (the first will be around 05 January). During these closures, we’ll divert road users to the next junction to return straight back to continue their journey. We will update you on these closures closer to the time.

We’ll be working hard to keep any disruption to a minimum, but you may hear noise from the vegetation clearance or drilling if you live close by. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Also, if you’re travelling through the area please allow extra time for your journeys.

As we deliver this important road upgrade, we are conscious of the need to keep the region moving. We will coordinate our work with HS2 and the Commonwealth Games to minimise disruption to the network and we are currently finalising our work programme on this basis. We will deliver the scheme by 2023-24.

Contact us                                                                                                                                 

For information about the surveys, please contact our customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000 or email: .

If you would like more information about the scheme including planned closure details, please visit our webpage:

www.highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/west-midlands/m40-m42-interchange-smart-motorway/

Regards

Martin Phillips BEng (Hons) MCIHT MCIPR

Customer and Stakeholder Manager

M40/M42 Interchange Smart Motorway

bmJV Survey Site Compound, The Chestnuts, Beoley Ln, Beoley, Redditch, B98 9DP