DRIVERS are being advised to plan ahead as major road works will cause delays on the M42 near Birmingham Airport.

Drivers heading from Worcestershire towards Birmingham Airport face delays tonight and have been urged to plan ahead.

M42 traffic delays near Birmingham Airport are expected from tonight as motorists are warned to leave extra time for their journeys. 

The northbound carriageway will be closed between junctions 2 (Hopwood Park) and 3a (Umberslade Interchange), from tonight until Friday, September 15.

The closure between 8pm to 6am is connected to ongoing safety enhancements at the M40/M42 interchange.

National Highways Project Sponsor Nick Wells said: “This is an important scheme to enhance safety at this busy gateway to the West Midlands. We are upgrading the steel central reservation barrier with a new reinforced concrete one, installing new drainage in the central reservation and replacing central reservation lighting where applicable.

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“As part of that work we need to close a section of the northbound carriageway to complete a range of tasks including the removal of the temporary barrier, re-opening sections of motorway, re-instating permanent white lanes, drainage and the removal of CCTV cameras.

“We therefore advise drivers to plan ahead, check their route before travelling and allow extra time, especially if they have a flight to catch.

“We’d like to thank people for their patience as we carry out this work, which puts us in a better position to complete the project sooner than the projected date of Spring 2024.”

Traffic will be diverted northbound on the M5 to join the M6 southbound. Those intending to continue their journey on the M42, north or southbound, can use M6 junction 4a. Diversions will be clearly signed and people are advised to follow them rather than their satnavs.