Water Orton Interchange

Water Orton Interchange is junction 4A of the M6, and junction 8 of the M42. The junction is spread over a large area and includes several long sliproads.

In 1998 the M6 eastbound here was used to trial a tiger tail diverge. It had been estimated that as much as 50% of the traffic was leaving here, and the new layout was considered to be successful in evenly distributing the traffic and improving driver behaviour.

Alternative BNRR scheme

Between 1984-1987 there were two potential routes for the southern section of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. One of these met the M6 at Water Orton and would have required braiding to remove any weaving. As the junction opened with the M42 in 1985 this would involve making alterations to structures only a few years old. However, in 1986 the preferred route for the BNRR was along the M42 corridor and when it opened as the M6 Toll in 2003 the only alteration necessary was the widening of the M42 to D4M through the junction.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
M6	Birmingham (Central, E, N & W)
M6	LONDON (M1), Coventry, N.E.C	accessed to/from M6 only
M42	The NORTH (M1), Tamworth
M42	The SOUTH WEST (M5), LONDON (M40), (M6 South), Birmingham (S), Warwick, Solihull, N.E.C & Birmingham Airport