Faster, smoother journeys in the West Midlands thanks to transformative new road

Millions of drivers across the West-Midlands will benefit from easier journeys and better access to jobs with a new government funded road, announced by the Future of Roads Minister today (Tuesday 26th August).

The M54-M6 link road will deliver huge economic benefits across the Midlands, including in Telford, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. The new road, which will connect the M54 with the M6 northbound in Staffordshire, will provide working people the improved connectivity needed to make the West Midlands a better to place to live, work and invest in.
 
People will also have better access to businesses, with the new road providing easy access to the i54 business park, home to the new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at Four Ashes. 
 
The transformative new project could reduce traffic on existing local roads by around 80%, slashing motorists’ journey times. Not only will this make journeys simpler, but it will also move cars away from villages – improving safety for local communities. 
 
The Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood said:

“Everyone knows how frustrating it is to be stuck in traffic, especially when trying to get to work. This brand-new link road will help create simpler and easier journeys for millions, better connecting people to jobs and driving growth as we deliver our Plan for Change.
 
“This is just one of the many road projects we have given the green light as part of our £25 billion investment in motorways, A-roads and local streets across the country.”
 
CEO of Midlands Connect Maria Machancoses, said: 

“It's great to have the Minister here in the Midlands, following Government support for three of our major strategic road priorities. The proposed M54/M6 link road is essential for improving the efficiency of the motorways and reducing congestion and disturbance on small local roads. Residents are currently faced with large streams of traffic coming through small villages, which no one likes. It will also support local economic growth in Telford, Shrewsbury, Tamworth and Cannock by enhancing their competitiveness through enhanced connectivity.”

Ruth Ross, Chief Executive, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, said: 
 
"The transport and logistics sector is a very important part of the Shropshire economy - our central location is an incredibly powerful selling point when it comes to marketing the county for inward investment. This only works, however, if we have reliable and efficient transport links. 
 
“This link road project will level the playing field for Shropshire, making it just as easy to access the northbound carriageway of the M6 as it has been for the southbound route for many years. If it reduces congestion on surrounding roads and cuts down travel times, it can only be good for business... and for the appeal of Shropshire as a destination."
 
To mark the project, Lillian Greenwood was taken on a tour of the current route between the M54 and the M6 to showcase the heavy levels of traffic already seen on the local roads, and how the new link road will directly address these issues. The Future of Roads Minister was also joined on the visit by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker for a tour of the proposed scheme.
 
Managing Director EAC Telford, Adam Hilton, said:
 
“EAC believe this development will be highly beneficial for both businesses and the local community. A direct motorway connection between the M54 and the M6 north will significantly reduce congestion on surrounding roads, improve reliability for deliveries, and make travel times far more predictable. This will help us operate more efficiently and strengthen our links to suppliers and customers across the Midlands and beyond.

“Improved connectivity to Telford is also likely to attract more business investment into the area, which is a positive step for economic growth. This project represents a much-needed infrastructure improvement that will have a lasting, positive impact.”