M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

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jackal
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M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by jackal »

I don't think there's yet a thread for this scheme, which will turn 28km of the M6 into a D4 with all the electronic bells and whistles. Scheme cost is £232.3 to £335.4 million, with construction to start in March 2018. It will not quite link to the ongoing J16-19 smart motorway scheme, as J15-16 past Stoke will remain as D3M for now.

http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m ... -motorway/
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Norfolktolancashire
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Norfolktolancashire »

Would it be less expensive to extend the works up to junction 16 at the same time, thus completing the M6 smart works between the A556 and M6 toll?
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jackal
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by jackal »

More works=more expense. They may plan to move on to J15-16 after this scheme is done though.
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Norfolktolancashire
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Norfolktolancashire »

jackal wrote:More works=more expense. They may plan to move on to J15-16 after this scheme is done though.
What I meant to say was that it would be cheaper by running the two schemes together, i.e. less expensive than two separate schemes.
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jackal
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by jackal »

Norfolktolancashire wrote:
jackal wrote:More works=more expense. They may plan to move on to J15-16 after this scheme is done though.
What I meant to say was that it would be cheaper by running the two schemes together, i.e. less expensive than two separate schemes.
Doing it all at once may not be very cost effective given the capacity shortfall expected in the sector around 2020 as dozens of schemes start construction. What you gain in economies of scale you might lose from supply and demand. But if you mean sequence them, so they move onto J15-16 as J13-15 finishes, there may be cost savings.
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Burns »

Four years of construction time? Is it just me or do online road projects seem to be taking longer and longer to build?
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Johnathan404
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Johnathan404 »

I think it's fair to say things have peaked with the M3 and M60 smart motorway projects.
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by jusme »

Game on:

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/loc ... ext-month/

So that's nearly 40 miles of works between Birmingham and Manchester. Whoopee!
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by owen b »

jusme wrote:Game on:

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/loc ... ext-month/

So that's nearly 40 miles of works between Birmingham and Manchester. Whoopee!
So if I understand this correctly, driving from Luton to the north west in a few months time, there will simultaneously be major smart motorway works on M1 J13-16, M6 J2-4, M6 J13-15 and M6 J16-19. That's over 60 miles.

Any clue when M6 J15-16 will be done?
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Big L »

I predict once 13-15 opens there will be people pottering along the hard shoulder between 15 and 16. 11a to 19 will all be 4-lane running except for that gap.

I like that the article says there will be public consultations up until March 10th and work starts on March 17th. Lots of time to process and act on the feedback there!
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Bryn666 »

I was under the impression that 15-16 was not being done because of the relatively high turn off volumes for the A500.

They will have to make it extremely clear that section is only 3 lanes if so!
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by owen b »

Bryn666 wrote:I was under the impression that 15-16 was not being done because of the relatively high turn off volumes for the A500.

They will have to make it extremely clear that section is only 3 lanes if so!
I take your word for it, but looking at the traffic flows there doesn't on the face of it seem to be enough difference in traffic to justify three lanes rather than four. J15-16 only seems to be about 10,000 vpd lower than the sections north and south of it.
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Johnathan404 »

In the pre-managed motorway days, I always found J15-16 to be light relief compared to the stress of the rest of the road. The only hold-ups appeared to be caused by congestion at the two exits.
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Robert Kilcoyne »

owen b wrote:
jusme wrote: So that's nearly 40 miles of works between Birmingham and Manchester. Whoopee!
So if I understand this correctly, driving from Luton to the north west in a few months time, there will simultaneously be major smart motorway works on M1 J13-16, M6 J2-4, M6 J13-15 and M6 J16-19. That's over 60 miles.

Any clue when M6 J15-16 will be done?
I would be tempted to avoid the M1 and M6 altogether. The A5 is a reasonable alternative and you could follow it as far as the M6 Toll/A5148 junction at Wall Island, then take the A5127, A51, A49 and M56 (or A51, A34, A500, A34, A5011 and A50) to rejoin the M6 at Lymm. If your destination is Chester or Wirral, the A5 and A41 would be worth considering.
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by owen b »

Robert Kilcoyne wrote:
owen b wrote:
jusme wrote: So that's nearly 40 miles of works between Birmingham and Manchester. Whoopee!
So if I understand this correctly, driving from Luton to the north west in a few months time, there will simultaneously be major smart motorway works on M1 J13-16, M6 J2-4, M6 J13-15 and M6 J16-19. That's over 60 miles.

Any clue when M6 J15-16 will be done?
I would be tempted to avoid the M1 and M6 altogether. The A5 is a reasonable alternative and you could follow it as far as the M6 Toll/A5148 junction at Wall Island, then take the A5127, A51, A49 and M56 (or A51, A34, A500, A34, A5011 and A50) to rejoin the M6 at Lymm. If your destination is Chester or Wirral, the A5 and A41 would be worth considering.
When I'm heading that way I'm usually going to Scotland. So once M1 J13-16, M6 J2-4 and M6 J13-15 are all underway it'll be Black Cat then A1 / A1(M) and A66. According to Google Maps it's usually only 10 minutes or so slower than M1/M6 from where I live as it is, I'm sure when there's over 60 miles of roadworks on the M1/M6, it'll be quicker.
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Pat Pending »

I hope Highways England will get better at posting information about delays on this stretch when travelling northbound. They are very fond of showing this information just after junction 10A when it's too late to divert via the M54 and A41. There are plenty of opportunities after junction 8 that are wasted with routine "use the hard shoulder" instructions and similar. On the other hand, information is generally quite good on the northern stretch of the M5.

I'm not looking forward to my journey from M6 J14 to M5 J3 through to the autumn!
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Jeni »

Robert Kilcoyne wrote: I would be tempted to avoid the M1 and M6 altogether. The A5 is a reasonable alternative and you could follow it as far as the M6 Toll/A5148 junction at Wall Island, then take the A5127, A51, A49 and M56 (or A51, A34, A500, A34, A5011 and A50) to rejoin the M6 at Lymm. If your destination is Chester or Wirral, the A5 and A41 would be worth considering.
Of course, you *can* do that, if you've got enough time to waste.
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by Owain »

owen b wrote:
Robert Kilcoyne wrote:
owen b wrote: So if I understand this correctly, driving from Luton to the north west in a few months time, there will simultaneously be major smart motorway works on M1 J13-16, M6 J2-4, M6 J13-15 and M6 J16-19. That's over 60 miles.

Any clue when M6 J15-16 will be done?
I would be tempted to avoid the M1 and M6 altogether. The A5 is a reasonable alternative and you could follow it as far as the M6 Toll/A5148 junction at Wall Island, then take the A5127, A51, A49 and M56 (or A51, A34, A500, A34, A5011 and A50) to rejoin the M6 at Lymm. If your destination is Chester or Wirral, the A5 and A41 would be worth considering.
When I'm heading that way I'm usually going to Scotland. So once M1 J13-16, M6 J2-4 and M6 J13-15 are all underway it'll be Black Cat then A1 / A1(M) and A66. According to Google Maps it's usually only 10 minutes or so slower than M1/M6 from where I live as it is, I'm sure when there's over 60 miles of roadworks on the M1/M6, it'll be quicker.
I've driven all over Britain and Ireland, plus an additional (*quick count!*) 16 other European countries. In my experience, the M6 between Birmingham the West Midlands Conurbation and Manchester the M62 offers The Most Awful Driving Experience Of Any Road I've Ever Been On. It is miserable at best and truly hellish at worst, and I will do absolutely anything to avoid that accursed stretch of tarmac!

Most of the journeys on which I'd be most likely to use the M6 would be between Leeds and the South West. For me, it's M1 and M5 every time, with either Route 42, A38, or M69-A46 to connect them. I would never choose the M6; even at night!

If I were owen b:

- for Luton to western Scotland, I would probably use A1-A66.

- for Luton to North Wales, I would do M1-M6-M54-A5.

- for Luton to Liverpool, I would do M1-M6-M54-A41.

- for Luton to Manchester, I would consider M1-A50-A38-A52-A523, but probably do M1-A50-A500-M6/A34.
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by owen b »

Owain wrote:
If I were owen b:

- for Luton to western Scotland, I would probably use A1-A66.

- for Luton to North Wales, I would do M1-M6-M54-A5.

- for Luton to Liverpool, I would do M1-M6-M54-A41.

- for Luton to Manchester, I would consider M1-A50-A38-A52-A523, but probably do M1-A50-A500-M6/A34.
As I am owen b :wink: , I'll tell you what I actually do :

Manchester and Liverpool : I haven't been to either for decades. No mountains in either of them.

North Wales : M1 / M6 / M54 / A5. Usually I'm going to the Lleyn, so then over the Berwyns : B4396/B4391/A4212.

Scotland : nearly always M1 / M6. Usually I head north on a Saturday and if I'm beyond Thelwall by mid morning it's usually clear although boring. I normally do southbound on a Saturday or Sunday. Southbound traffic on a Saturday isn't usually too bad so I stick to M6 / M1. On a Sunday I tend to keep a listen out for travel news approaching Penrith (and now I've got new fangled Android Auto connecting my new smartphone with Google Maps to the car so that will help with route choices :shock: ) and I'll decide on A66 / A1(M) or M6 / M1 accordingly. Worst of all is August Bank Holiday Monday southbound, twice I've been caught in horrendous traffic on the M6 southbound from Thelwall, I won't be repeating that. From Luton going via Carlisle rather than Newcastle / A1 / Edinburgh is quicker for any part of the Scottish highlands, though I will go the A1(M) / A1 / M90 route one day soon just to go over the new Forth bridge and the Leeming to Barton upgrade. With 60 miles plus of roadworks on the M1/M6 to look forward to, and with the A1/A1(M) mostly clear of roadworks once L-B is finished, anywhere north of Penrith will be quicker via A1(M) / A66.
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Re: M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway

Post by vlad »

That's a far more positive article than the one in my local paper which seems to consist entirely of whingeing.
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