M6 J16-19 smart motorway project update – J16-17 All lane running at 60mph

We would like to inform you of our progress on the M6 junction 16-19 (Crewe to Knutsford) smart motorway project.

 Final stages

As of Monday March 18, motorists are able to use all 4 new lanes between junction 16 (Crewe) and junction 17 (Sandbach) at 60mph, northbound and southbound.

New overhead electronic signs have been switched on to provide drivers with live information about their journeys, including changes in the speed limit, lane closures and incidents ahead.

For safety reasons, a temporary 60mph speed limit will remain in place between junctions 16 and 17 until the technology work is completed.

The national speed and variable speed limits will come into force in line with overall project completion one week’s time.

The entire 18-mile upgrade is on schedule to be finished by the end of March, improving journeys for the 120,000 drivers who use the M6 every day.

What is left to complete?

The remaining work includes commissioning the new technology along the route and some landscaping work to the motorway verge.

What will happen when the smart motorway is complete?

When the smart motorway is fully complete, motorists will feel the benefit of improved and reliable journeys even more. Traffic sensors will automatically monitor the flow of traffic and adjust the speed limit, accordingly, tackling the stop/start conditions and tailbacks caused by sudden braking. New CCTV cameras will provide 100% coverage of the route and allow Highways England’s traffic officers and the emergency services to respond quickly to incidents.