M6 Toll

The M6 Toll (previously called the Birmingham North Relief Road, or BNRR) is the United Kingdom's first toll-paying motorway. Designed to alleviate the increasing congestion on the M6 through Birmingham and the Black Country, it connects M6 Junction 4 at the NEC to M6 Junction 11A at Wolverhampton with 27 miles of three-lane motorway. This busiest section of the M6 was previously carrying up to 180,000 vehicles per day when it was designed to carry only 72,000. The new M6 Toll road is touted by its operator as saving up to 45 minutes journey time over the old road before the opening of the toll road.

Features

The M6 Toll has only a few junctions, some with limited access, to discourage local traffic from using the new bypass. Unlike modern toll roads in continental Europe, the M6 Toll uses toll plazas.

Related Topics:
Bypass - Toll plaza

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Motorway's only Service Area is situated at Norton Canes, between junctions T6 and T7. Opened on 9 March 2004, it claimed to be the best service area on Britain's motorway network, featuring table service in the restaurant during evenings and free screen washes in the petrol station during quiet periods.

Related Topics:
Service Area - Norton Canes - 9 March - 2004 - Britain - Table service - Screen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On 10 January 2004, just 5 weeks after opening, a short section of the road near Sutton Coldfield was reduced to one lane to allow for repairs to an uneven surface. On 19 January work also began on a separate stretch near Langley Mill, to deal with heavy rainwater failing to drain away.

Related Topics:
10 January - 2004 - Sutton Coldfield - 19 January

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~