Weeford Interchange

Weeford Interchange is a junction on the A38 in Staffordshire connecting with the A5 and M6 Toll. It is junction T4 of the M6 Toll.

It was previously known as Weeford Tollgate Cross-roads, then Weeford Roundabout.

History

The Crossroads

The junction was originally a crossroads. A number of serious and fatal accidents occurred at the junction during the 1930's and a campaign by the Lichfield Mercury prompted the local MP to bring it to the attention of the Minister of Transport. His reply on 10 November 1938 in Hansard is "My attention has been called to accidents which have occurred at the junction of A.5 and A.446 near Weeford. Authority was given on 1st November for the erection of "Halt" signs at this point and I am informed that the Staffordshire County Council are giving very early consideration to the question of constructing a roundabout there". The illuminated "Halt" signs were erected on Watling Street (A5) on 10 November 1938.

Accidents continued which may have been because some were still assuming that the A5 had priority. There was a report in October 1947 that the junction was still a crossroads with a Halt sign.

The first roundabout

A small roundabout is shown on the 1951 OS 2 1/2 inch map and a report in the Lichfield Mercury on 3 October 1952 mentions the roundabout.

The second roundabout

This was part of the first stage of the dualling of the then A446 from Lichfield to Bassett's Pole. Galliford and Sons Ltd. won the contract for the 2.5 mile section south from the junction to Weeford Park (Canwell) which was due to be completed by Spring 1969. Roadworks reports continued until November 1968 and the larger roundabout is shown on the January 1969 OS One inch map.

The 1969 map still shows the cottages in the middle of the large roundabout since the Ministry of Transport did not purchase the cottages until after the roundabout's completion. The householders, having suffered the construction work and traffic around them, then moved out and the cottages were demolished. The cottages were built in the 1920s and were believed to be on the site of the former tollgate.

The dual carriageway northwards is shown on the February 1973 OS Quarter inch map.

M6 Toll Interchange

The M6 Toll opened on 9 December 2003.

Maps

A small roundabout is showing by 1951	The new roundabout shown in 1969 with southwards dualling.	Northwards dualling shown in 1973.

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  The Current Layout of Weeford Interchange.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
M6 Toll	The NORTH WEST (M6 North), Cannock
M6 Toll	The SOUTH (M6, M42), Coventry, Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield
A5	Brownhills, (M6 North)
A5	(M42 (North), Tamworth
A38	Burton, Lichfield
A38	Birmingham
C36	Hints, Weeford	Watling Street, former A5
M600	The NORTH WEST (M6 North), Cannock	administrative number for M6 Toll
M600	The SOUTH (M6, M42), Coventry, Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield	administrative number for M6 Toll
A446(M)	The NORTH WEST (M6 North), Cannock	provisional number for M6 Toll
A446(M)	The SOUTH (M6, M42), Coventry, Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield	provisional number for M6 Toll