M42
M42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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From: | Catshill (SO952726) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To: | Appleby Magna (SK306204) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Via: | Solihull, Tamworth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance: | 40 miles (64.4 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meets: | M5, M6, M6 Toll, M40, A42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Southern and eastern sections of the Birmingham Box, along with the Birmingham-Nottingham Motorway, which falls short of the M1 by several miles, and limps there via the A42. Originally aiming at the A609/A6002 junction, this northern alignment was changed to a more southerly one that became the A42 to save money in the mid-70s.
The M42 includes a multiplex with the M6 Toll, one of only three multiplexes between two motorways in Great Britain.
Active Traffic Management Trial
The M42 was the first motorway in the UK to to trial Active Traffic Management, between junctions 3a and 7, where gantries are used to introduce variable speed limits onto the motorway, and allow the hard shoulder to be used as a running lane during congested periods. The legislation permitting this came into force in July 2005.
Junctions
Catshill Interchange
Main Article: Catshill Interchange
The Catshill Interchange is a junction between the M5 and M42. For the M42, it forms the western terminus. The junction was originally a south-facing fork, only allowing access northbound M5 traffic to the M42, and forcing M42 traffic to take the M5 southbound. This design was because the M42 was originally planned to split into two further east, with the Lydiate Ash Link providing the missing movements.
Umberslade Interchange
Main Article: Umberslade Interchange
The Umberslade Interchange is a triangular junction between M42 and M40 towards London. Priority is given between M40 and M42 westbound, with traffic wishing to remain on the M42 having to turn off. This junction would also have been the northern terminus of the unbuilt Strensham - Solihull Motorway.
Services
Hopwood Park services
Main Article: Hopwood Park services
Hopwood Park is a single-site MSA located at M42 junction 2. It is operated by Welcome Break.
Tamworth services
Main Article: Tamworth services
Tamworth is a single-site MSA located at M42 junction 10, and is also accessible and signed along A5. It is operated by Moto.
Opening Dates
History
Originally the M42 ran south of the M6 at Coleshill to the A34. Junctions were numbered south to north:
- J1: A34 Monkspath Interchange
- J2: A41 Copt Hill Interchange
- J3: A45 Bickenhill Interchange
- J4: M6 Coleshill Interchange
Lydiate Ash Link
This was a different approach to north-facing slips to the M5. Rather than having them at Catshill Interchange, a longer link would cut the corner off. Plans to built this link lasted until the M5 was widened in the late 80s, when north-facing slips were added at Catshill.
Unbuilt Nottingham Extension
The M42 was originally intended to run all the way to Nottingham, turning north at Junction 11, then bypassing Ashby and Melbourne to the west, crossing the A52 near Risley and ending on the M1 near Nottingham. Due to a budget cut, the dual-carriageway A42 was constructed instead, which meets the M1 much further south at Castle Donington.
Links
legislation.gov.uk
Roads.org.uk
Roads UK
Pathetic Motorways