The route was conceived to take the weight off the M6 , and ease journeys to London and the South East for long-haul traffic heading there from north west cities like Liverpool or Manchester. Local traffic would continue to use the existing M6 motorway, as would traffic heading to other parts of the country such as North Wales or the West Country. The preferred route of the M6 Toll was published in , splitting off from the M6 and rejoining it at junctions 3a and 11a - a distance of 27 miles.
In the government announced the new road was to be privately funded. A consortium called Midland Expressway Ltd won the rights to build and operate the road for a period of 50 years. The M6 Toll took three years to build and was opened in late December of , the perfect Xmas present for drivers who wanted to escape the ordeal of the existing motorway route through Birmingham.
M6 Toll traffic flows have never been as high as originally predicted though, a fact for which the significant M6 Toll charges have been blamed. The M6 Toll was designed primarily to provide an easier route for traffic driving past Birmingham when travelling from the north west of the country to London and the south east.
In that case the road makes perfect sense, and drivers heading north or south on the M6 will find themselves directed seamlessly onto the toll road. Too easily, some would say, as the M6 Toll junctions at either end are laid out as though they are the primary through-route of the M6 motorway itself.
The M6 Toll is arguably not much use to drivers using the M54 on the eastern side of Birmingham, and they too must rely on the old M6.
According to the toll operator, customers report an average time-saving of 25 minutes compared to using the non-toll option. During the week there are standard day and night rates, plus discounted off-peak periods in the morning and evening. Weekend charges are split only into day and night rates, and if you exit at any M6 Toll junction along the route without getting to the end, you also pay a reduced charge.
Free guided tours of the bridge over the Avon Gorge are offered at weekends. If a latter-day Prisoner were to escape from the labyrinthine North Wales folly of Portmeirion, he would need to find 40p to pay the toll on this rickety wooden bridge near the gates, shared with a railway.
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Want an ad-free experience? Figures from Midland Expressway Limited showed it was used an average of 36, times a day in and and 43, times a day so far in Chief executive Tom Fanning said despite the lower vehicle numbers it had been a success. He said the route had been affected by the "prolonged economic downturn" but said customer satisfaction surveys showed the road was a reliable alternative to the M6. He added: "Since opening the M6 Toll over million transactions have taken place, with customers choosing to use our service to bypass Birmingham because they value their time and they know that our charges represent value for money.
Dr Pat Hanlon, a senior lecturer in transport economics at the University of Birmingham, said it was too soon to brand the road a failure. Ten years may seem a long time but roads last in our country for centuries. I suspect some of the roads the Romans made weren't very well-used when they were first built.
When the recession really ends then we will get a clearer picture of how much it is needed. Lorries in free toll road trial. Protest against M6 Toll charges. Tolls 'could pay for new roads'. Road Haulage Association. Department of Transport.
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