Overview

The M6 Toll is the most exciting development in British transport history for many years. Since the M6 Toll opened in December 2003, it has grown from strength to strength and is recognised to be a key strategic route through the West Midlands.

A motorway built out of need
The M6 Toll's origins stretch back to 1980, when the government realised for the first time, the need to ease congestion through the West Midlands conurbation.

The M6 was built to carry just 72,000 vehicles a day, but today has to cope with up to 145,000.

The early suggestion was to widen the current M6 but part of the M6 is built on a viaduct, so this wasn't realistic. After much public consultation, the decision was taken to build a new motorway. This was to follow existing roads: the A5, A38 and A446, all of which would also benefit from reduced congestion.

In 1991, the Government decided the M6 Toll would be a privately funded venture. Midland Expressway competed for and were awarded the concession to run the M6 Toll for 53 years to 2054. The road actually opened 6 weeks early on 9 December 2003.

Bypassing one of Europe's most congested motorways - where does the M6 toll run?
The M6 Toll runs from junction 3a on the M6 and arcs around the north-east of the West Midlands conurbation rejoining the M6 at 11a.

It therefore links the M6 and M42 to the south of Birmingham and the M6 north of Birmingham, while bypassing the most congested section of the M6 which runs past Birmingham.

View our interactive map for more details.

Company Details

Midland Expressway Limited, Operations Centre, Express Way, Weeford, Lichfield, WS14 0PQ. 

Registered in England and Wales with company number 2309767