Skanska is leading on a £282 million project to improve junction 6 of the M42. The scheme, delivered on behalf of National Highways, provides a comprehensive upgrade of the junction near Birmingham Airport, allowing better movement of traffic on and off the A45.

Once complete road users will benefit from smoother journeys and the work will support economic growth in the area. Benefits include:

• Safe and reliable operation of the road network
• Increased capacity at junction 6, reducing congestion
• Improved access to key businesses and locations such as Birmingham Airport
• Improved access for cyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable users of the network.

Located to the east of Birmingham, near Solihull, the scheme was highlighted in the government’s 2014 Road Investment Strategy as an important junction lying in an area of dynamic growth.

Skanska is leading the project, working in close collaboration with design partner Mott MacDonald and customer National Highways. The Secretary of State granted Development Consent for the scheme in May 2020 and the main construction works commenced early 2021.

Works include:

• A new 2.4km dual carriageway link road
• A new junction on the M42 motorway, Junction 5A
• A new pedestrian footbridge over the A45
• Demolition of the existing Solihull Road overbridge and construction of a new bridge to replace it
• Realignment of the existing local road network.

Skanska won the project through the National Highways Regional Delivery Partnership (RDP), for which we are a Delivery Integration Partner for the East of England and Midlands regions.