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It's
the journey that most drivers dread. Travelling from Manchester
through Birmingham on the M6 can mean long delays at any time of
the day.
Now, the Government is to unveil plans to build an eight lane superhighway
from junction 11A just north of Birmingham to junction 20, the Lymm
interchange.
But critics argue the extra capacity will be quickly absorbed by
yet more traffic and that the Β£1bn cost would be better spent
on improving public transport.
Today's announcement also includes more than Β£500 million
for three new Metrolink lines out of Manchester to Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne
and Manchester Airport. See also: Metrolink:
a fare deal?
This topic is now closed. If you wish to
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From
Andy Walkden in Southport
I think that if you do not widen the M6 the extra trafic will
use the road any way, causing m25 chaos. On 3 lane motorways HGV's
can use the first two lanes. On 4 lane motorways they can use the
first 3 lanes, I think that limiting HGV's to the first 2 lanes regardless
of the number of lanes on the highway would help. Maybe the outside
lane should be for cars only.
From
David Dunne, Wigan
I cannot beleive I am the only person who seems aware of the obvious
solution to not only reduce traffic congestion but, more importantly,
to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities on British roads.
First of all, the driving test needs a serious overhaul, making it
far more difficult than it currently is because at the moment it's
so basic it's a joke. Secondly, driving licences should only be valid
for a maximum of 10 years, after which motorists should have a re-test.
And thirdly, there should be a mandatory eyesight test every twelve
months. I genuinely believe that at least 50% of British motorists
are not competent enough to cope with the demands of driving safely,
skilfully and in full control.
From
Steve in Rhyl - Warrington
i only use the M-Ways at night.... so i have no problems with them....
why can't the trucks travel at night? p.s. the next road to fill up
will be the A55
From
Phil in Hyde, Manchester
- Lorries are a large cause of disruption, i believe more should
be invested into moving freight onto the railways. this would finally
put some investment into the railways, free up our roads, and possibly
even speed up deliveries.
From
Malc Brookes, St Helens
I work within the computing industry and travel from St Helens to
Wythenshawe each day. Much of my work I could do at home reducing
the need to go into the office to maybe once or twice a week. With
IT communications improving all the time and broadband internet finally
taking off, home working is a viable option, but employers' mindsets
need to be changed and how better to change them than with financial
incentives from the government?
From
Trevor Hall in Telford
If it takes 9 months + to repair part of the Thelwall viaduct with
all the consequent disruption and inconvenience can you imagine how
long it will truly take to construct the extra lanes and the congestion
it will cause? Minimising closure of the existing lanes and encouraging
sensible driving techniques, particularly amongst the HGV fraternity,
would be a much better & cheaper solution.
From
Raymond Keen in Kelowna, Canada (Ex Ye Olde Cock Inn Didsbury)
He he he! Reading about all your problems with traffic jams made me
laugh sorry guys, the only traffic jam I put up with these days is
when the lift span of the floating bridge is raised to allow a boat
through, it takes me approx 20 mins to commute to work, on gas at
60 cents a liter (20 pence). The philosophy here, Kelowna, BC Canada,
is make public transport work, not more roads.
From
Steve Bates in Salford
Widening will never work, just draw more & more cars on to it. The
way to solve the traffic problems is for this useless war hungry government
of ours to pump the billions they are spending on fighting every country
America tells us to & invest in cheap, frequent and reliable public
transport.
From
Dave Thomas in Wigan
What a waste of money a 4th lane would be. The issues are between
junction 5 and 11 on the M6 and this isn't part of the scheme. I travel
this road regularly and would advise better spending of the money
would be getting people to drive on the left hand side of the road
and stop them causing any extra congestion and safety problems by
staying in the middle and outside lanes. Another suggestion would
be minimum speeds in these lanes to help traffics flow.
From
dr.s t ali in fence, lancashire
an extra lane will certainly be useful on busy british motorways.
it all depends on when work will start and finish.
From
Malcolm Coghill, UK
When the Thelwall viaduct area was widened to 4 lanes in the mid 90s
the traffic flowed that much more smoothly, since the roadworks we
are once again reduced to a crawl, especially Southbound from the
M62 onwards. If the stretch from Wolverhampton to Thelwall was increased
to 4 lanes this would ease the congestion on the M6, but would then
make things worse on the A556 from junction 19 to the M56. So the
next project would be to make a proper motorway from the M6 to the
M56. This then would make for more congestion on the awful M56/M60
junction, and so it goes on.
From
Grah in Manchester
Adding another lane is the only way to improve flow PROVIDED we can
find some way of restricting the goods vehicles to the first two lanes.
How many other drivers have been hindered by two (sometimes three)
goods vehicles side by side trying vainly to overtake for miles on
end? Don't they realise the other vehicle is fitted with EXACTLY THE
SAME speed governor as they are? Although putting freight back onto
the rails would be a more sensible option, I have no desire to see
thousands of drivers out of work! And while we're at it, could we
seriously consider a West Midlands Bypass for through traffic only.
Maybe running from M6 J11 to J3?
From
Peter Barber, Glasgow (recently Manchester)
Never mind the taxpayers' money to be spent on widening the M6. It
seems to me that we're wasting money on transport studies and the
Commission for Integrated Transport, since all Governments seem to
ignore their advice and build more roads anyway. It's crazy.
From
Sarah, Sale
There is a crash every week or more frequently on this stretch of
motorway and therefore i think it is wise to widen it. What worries
me is that this is not a sustainable solution and more NEEDS to be
done to promote public transport and greatly improve it to make it
a feasible coice for commuters. What is going to happen in another
10 years, a 5 lane motorway? Please Please Please lets sort our transport
situation out.
From
Chris Ratcliffe
I have lived in Warrington for 17 years and seen the M6 over the
Thelwall viaduct increase to four lanes. A good idea except for drivers
who will insist in driving in the two right hand lanes. Leaving the
two on the left hand side free of traffic. Why? It seems that the
more lanes that are added the traffic just moves over to the right,
so no improvement of flow.
From
Robert Battersby, Manchester
The Government are hell bent on squandering taxpayers' money on paving
the UK. Eastern Europe and Africa send freight by rail because they
cannot afford to squander money on inefficient motorways and lorries.
The money should be used to provide more rail capacity over this corridor
and modern intermodal rail terminals along the corridor.
From
Neil, Warrington
i think its a good idea to widen the road, we cant carry on with all
the congestion, we need to get traffic moving and its the only way
forward.
From
Jennifer, Melbourne, Australia
The money would be better spent on public transport! Take a look at
Los Angeles or San Francisco USA. Congested freeways and no decent
public transport system!!
From
Alan Chenery, Fleetwood
Why don.t the goverment build double deck road so that the cars can
have three lanes running above the now M6.
From
Iain S Gerrard in Littleborough
Following the acknowledgement by Government in the recent past
that further roads lead to more traffic and that we can't continue
to cover the land with more and more concrete this has to be one of
the most expensive short-term solutions available. The Government
would do better to provide help and guidance for both businesses and
families to reduce many of their journey requirements. We need to
work, play, shop and be educated close to where we live. Businesses
need to look, for instance at alternative strategies which will allow
the transport of goods to be done at a more equitable time of day
and a more leisurly speed.
From
Garry Finch in Manchester
Widening the M6 will just add to the problems. It's already a dangerous
road and adding another row of cars and trucks is just going to make
it more so. It'll be like the M25, 4 rows of stationary traffic rather
than 3. Maybe the money should be spent on making it safer instead.
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