Walsall Council and Highways England have selected a design for a new £64.5 million road junction on the M6.

The new M6 junction 10 is being developed to reduce congestion, increase safety and improve links for businesses in the area.

Features include building two new bridges, increasing the junction's number of lanes from two to four, widening the Black Country Route (A454) from Junction 10 to the Bentley Mill Way bridge and making enhancements to the Wolverhampton Road and Bloxwich Lane junction.

In addition, improvements will be carried out to pedestrian and cycle facilities at the junction.

Subject to approvals and the completion of preparatory work, construction is expected to start on site late 2018 and completed by 2020.

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Deputy Council Leader Lee Jeavons said: "Of the two, this chosen design is seen as the most effective at reducing congestion, offers the best value for money and will improve safety for all road users. 



"Changes to the roundabout will not only cut travel time for motorists but encourage businesses and jobs to stay in the region and not move elsewhere. 



"Improving the road network in the area will support the Darlaston area of the Black Country Enterprise Zone, which totals around 45 hectares of land."

David Reed, Project Manager at Highways England, added: "Highways England and Walsall Council are both committed to cutting congestion and improving safety at M6 Junction 10. 

Working in partnership we have developed a design that will deliver more reliable journey times and, at the same time, provide a significant boost to the Midlands economy."

As part of the project, the public are being invited to view the design in person at three informational events later this month;

• Village Hotel, 2pm – 8pm, Wednesday, 15 February

• Holiday Inn, 12pm – 4pm, Monday, 20 February

• Boundary Mill, 11am – 2pm, Saturday, 25 February

(LM/MH)