- Roads Minister visits Government-funded M54-M6 link road,
which will connect millions to economic hubs, driving growth
under the Plan for Change.
- Route will ease congestion, cut journey times and provide
greater access to jobs and opportunities, making working people
better off.
- Minister speaks to industry leaders to learn how the
project will unlock the economic potential of the West
Midlands.
Millions of drivers across the West Midlands will benefit from
easier journeys and better access to jobs thanks to a
Government-funded road, confirmed by the Future of Roads Minister
today (Tuesday 26 August).
The M54-M6 link road will deliver huge economic benefits across
the Midlands, including in Telford, Shrewsbury, Cannock and
Wolverhampton. The new road, which will connect the M54 with the
M6 northbound in Staffordshire, will provide working people with
the improved connectivity needed to make the West Midlands a
better place to live, work and invest in.
People will also have better access to businesses, with the new
road providing improved access to the i54 business park and the
new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at Four Ashes.
The transformative new project could reduce traffic on existing
local roads by around 80%, slashing motorists' journey times.
Not only will this make journeys simpler, but it will also move
cars away from villages - improving safety and air quality for
local communities.
The Future of Roads Minister, said:
“Everyone knows how frustrating it is to be stuck in traffic,
especially when trying to get to work. This brand-new link road
will help create simpler and easier journeys for millions, better
connecting people to jobs and driving growth as we deliver our
Plan for Change.
“This is just one of the many road projects we have given the
green light as part of our £24 billion investment in motorways,
A-roads and local streets across the country.”
Ruth Ross, Chief Executive, Shropshire Chamber of
Commerce, said:
"The transport and logistics sector is a very important part of
the Shropshire economy - our central location is an incredibly
powerful selling point when it comes to marketing the county for
inward investment. This only works, however, if we have reliable
and efficient transport links.
“This link road project will level the playing field for
Shropshire, making it just as easy to access the northbound
carriageway of the M6 as it has been for the southbound route for
many years. If it reduces congestion on surrounding roads and
cuts down travel times, it can only be good for business and for
the appeal of Shropshire as a destination."
To mark the project, was taken on a tour of
the current route between the M54 and the M6 to showcase the
heavy levels of traffic already seen on the local roads, and how
the new link road will directly address these issues.
The Future of Roads Minister was also joined on the visit by West
Midlands Mayor for a tour of the proposed
scheme.
National Highways Chief Capital Delivery Officer, Nicola
Bell, said:
“Anybody wanting to access the M6 north from the M54 currently
has to use local roads such as the A460, A449 and A5, passing
through villages such as Featherstone, Hilton and Shareshill.
“This link road will help separate local and long-distance
drivers, putting the right traffic on the right roads, relieving
congestion, improving safety and supporting economic growth for
the Midlands.”
Managing Director EAC Telford, Adam Hilton,
said:
“EAC believe this development will be highly beneficial for both
businesses and the local community. A direct motorway connection
between the M54 and the M6 north will significantly reduce
congestion on surrounding roads, improve reliability for
deliveries, and make travel times far more predictable. This will
help us operate more efficiently and strengthen our links to
suppliers and customers across the Midlands and beyond.
“Improved connectivity to Telford is also likely to attract more
business investment into the area, which is a positive step for
economic growth. This project represents a much-needed
infrastructure improvement that will have a lasting, positive
impact.”
Notes to editors
