HS2 work and M6 closures - what you need to know

The M6 South viaduct deck, pictured after work over a slip road in June

Work to put an HS2 viaduct across the M6 will close part of the motorway over the weekend.

The M6 will be shut between junction 4 and 4A in Warwickshire northbound and southbound.

High-speed trains will eventually go over the M6 near Birmingham Airport, Birmingham Business Park and the NEC.

Which stretches will be affected this weekend and what alternative routes can drivers follow?

What will be closed and when?

The viaduct will be launched across the M6 northbound and southbound, including the M42 junction 7A northbound link for the M6 southbound.

This will involve closing the M42 link, as well as the M6 in both directions between junction 4 near Chelmsley Wood and 4A.

The closures are on Saturday and Sunday, ahead of a planned reopening on Monday.

HS2 has previously said the planned closure would run from 03:00 BST on Saturday.

Where are the diversion routes?

HS2 said drivers travelling northbound on the M6 would exit at junction 4, join the M42 southbound and leave at the junction 6 roundabout, on to the M42 northbound.

They would later use the junction 7 slip road to rejoin the M6 northbound.

Meanwhile, those travelling southbound on the M6 will be diverted at junction 4A on to the M42 northbound and carry on up to junction 9.

There, they will come off at the roundabout and rejoin the M42 southbound to eventually access the M6 southbound.

As for drivers wanting to join the M6 southbound from the M42 at junction 7A, they will continue northbound up to junction 9, before rejoining the M42 southbound and getting on the M6 at its junction 3A.

HS2 has asked drivers to allow more time for their journeys.

An image shows what the viaduct could look like after it is placed across the M6 northbound and southbound

Tell me more about the work

The M6 South Viaduct East Deck being slid into place will bear two tracks, ultimately taking trains towards London.

In early June, the first phase of the project saw the structure being slid 119m over the M6 junction 4 slip road.

This weekend is phase two and there will be a third phase in December or early next year, with further details to be released.

HS2 said to reduce the impact on surrounding roads it worked closely with National Highways to ensure "traffic management proposals have been designed and take into consideration any existing or planned traffic management in the area".

"We are aware our works may impact road users travelling on M6 and the M42, and we work hard to minimise any disruptions through our planning processes."

An adjacent West Deck will carry a further two tracks for services heading to Birmingham and further north.

The East Deck phasing will be replicated for the installation of the West Deck.

Work began in spring 2024 and will continue until the summer of next year. There will be a number of M6 weekend road closures during the work.