***UPDATE: the planned closure has now been postponed. Read more here.***

As part of our service to our Sandwell business community, we wanted to tell you about a forthcoming road closure that might affect you. Across the weekend of Friday 2 July to Monday 5 July, the M6 motorway will be closed in both directions between the junction 10 exit and the entry slip roads. This is part of the M6 J10 improvement works.

Over the past year, Highways England has made progress on the work to improve M6 junction 10. The aim is that once work is complete the improvements will ease congestion and reduce journey times for the thousands of road users who use it every day.

As part of the improvement work, the two existing bridges will be replaced with two new, four-lane bridges to increase traffic capacity and improve journey times through the junction.

In July a new bridge will be constructed across the north of the junction. To safely lift the new bridge beams into place, it is necessary to close the motorway in both directions between the junction 10 exit and entry slip roads.

During the closure all M6 traffic will be diverted up and over the junction in two  lanes. The timing of traffic lights on the roundabout will also be altered so that diverted traffic can move more freely through the junction.

Highways England recognises that there is never a good time to close such an  important junction and has carefully weighed up the impact against the benefit of  reducing overall disruption to the network.

By fully closing the junction for the weekend the work can be carried out faster than during a series of road closures over several nights.

During the closure, significant delays are anticipated at peak times across the weekend. The local roads in the surrounding area are also likely to experience long delays.

If your company or organisation operates near the road closure it is likely there will be an impact on travel times for your deliveries, collections, employees and customers. Please share this information and plan ahead to keep your business operating while the weekend closure takes place.

If you plan on making long-distance journeys, Highways England advises that you try to avoid this section of the M6 and use alternative routes, such as the M1. There will be signs in place across the network to reduce the number of vehicles travelling through the junction.

If you would like any further information about the M6 junction 10 improvement  scheme or the planned closures in July please contact  M6Junction10Improvement@highwaysengland.co.uk.

For help planning your journey while the work takes place please visit tfwm.org.uk/jp

The closure will take place from 8pm Friday 2 July to 6am Monday 5 July.