M40 / M42 Interchange Statutory Instrument Consultation (variable mandatory speed limits)

Overview

The M40/M42 Interchange is a very important commuter route for local traffic and a key location on the London to Scotland corridor. It connects the South-East with Birmingham, Manchester, the North-West and the West of Scotland. The interchange also connects Yorkshire and the East Midlands with the South-West of England. The interchange forms the South-East quadrant of the Birmingham Box motorway and as such is hugely significant for local commuter journeys.

The area the scheme is intended to improve currently suffers from significant congestion. The provision of an additional lane and introduction of variable mandatory speed limits will help to alleviate this congestion.

It is expected that the smart motorways scheme will:

• increase motorway capacity and reduce congestion

• smooth traffic flows

• provide more reliable journey times

• increase and improve the quality of information for the driver (in relation to the operation of the motorway)

The use of variable mandatory speed limits is essential to achieving the objectives above. Through the introduction of technology, we aim to make best use of the existing road space.

Please view the Consultation Document below to read more about our proposals.

Comments on the introduction of variable mandatory speed limits

We would like to encourage any organisations, businesses or individuals affected by these proposals to contact us and communicate their views. If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, it would be helpful if you could note this in your reply. Please also indicate the nature of the organisation; how many individuals’ views are included in the response and ways in which these views were gathered.

Sending your consultation response

You can provide your views by completing our online survey below.

If you'd prefer to submit your response in writing, please complete the response form in our consultation document and return to us by post or by email to the addresses below. Please ensure your response reaches us by 23:59 20 February 2020.

Naziya Sheikh

Project Manager

M40/M42 Interchange Smart Motorway Scheme

Highways England

2 Colmore Square

Queensway

Birmingham

B4 6BN

Email: M40M42Interchange@highwaysengland.co.uk