A seven-mile section of the M42 will close to enable a bridge to be demolished after a series of collisions made it unsafe. The bridge, which crosses the motorway between Junction 7, for the M6 (Coleshill), and Junction 6, for the A45 Coventry Road (Birmingham Airport / Coventry), has been hit some 20 times in the last 10 years, National Highways said.
It was due to be knocked down next year, but that demolition has now been brought forward to the weekend of February 10 and 11 after the bridge was badly damaged in two separate incidents earlier this month. As part of those works, the M42 southbound will close between Junctions 6 and 9, a stretch around seven miles long, from 9pm on Friday, February 9 to 5am on Monday, February 12.
The link arm from the M6 south to the M42 south and the M6 north to M42 south arm will also close. The northbound carriageway will shut from junction 6 to 7, including the link to the M6, but there will be no impact on the M6 toll.
It was due to be knocked down next year, but that demolition has now been brought forward to the weekend of February 10 and 11 after the bridge was badly damaged in two separate incidents earlier this month. As part of those works, the M42 southbound will close between Junctions 6 and 9, a stretch around seven miles long, from 9pm on Friday, February 9 to 5am on Monday, February 12.
The link arm from the M6 south to the M42 south and the M6 north to M42 south arm will also close. The northbound carriageway will shut from junction 6 to 7, including the link to the M6, but there will be no impact on the M6 toll.
Long stretch of M42 to shut as notorious bridge to be demolished
The same bridge has been hit by HGVs close to 20 times in the last ten years
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