M6 Toll Road

pinkteapot

Not MSE but TOTALLY worth taking it

Went up to the Lakes for the weekend. Travelling up on Wednesday night, we got to Birmingham about 9:30pm. We always take the M6 toll road but the M6 traffic was light so we figured we'd just go on the non-toll road.

OMG! How awful is the M6 through Birmingham?!

Firstly - road surface. It's in an awful state.

Secondly - crazy lane closures. The lanes have those lights above where they can put up Xs and arrows to close lanes. Lanes were closed for absolutely no reason. Everyone was shunted into the left hand lane. Then back into the middle. Then we had a 40 limit. Then the road was normal again. Just !!!!!!? Was the guy controlling the signs bored?

Never again. Unless we're actually going into Birmingham and have no choice.

All British motorways should have a toll road option alongside them.

Kilty_2

I tend not to use the toll although have used it once or twice.

Poorly executed concept IMO which is why it's perma-empty.

mikey72

Never used the toll road.
Since they built it, the other motorways have been fine.

globalds

The worst thing about the toll road is the toll ..Daft idea that only Midlander's would let the government get away with.

It is the perfect road to get from the M40 -M42 to the M54 for Telford..Most common route for me to drive.

Commercial traffic still doesn't like to use the toll road that is the main reason it always seems empty.

Loanranger

M6 Toll road is the best road in UK. Because it's a private road they can't do you for speeeeeding ...

Oh wait, er ...

nearlyrich

I use it when the company is paying it is getting busier though and a fair few lorries use it now.

Loanranger

I only use it if I'm going that way :cool:

pinkteapot

We regularly drive from Essex to the Lake District. We avoid the M25-M1 combo by going A120-M11-A14-M6

We use the toll road because we're on the M6 from before Birmingham all the way round it. After trying out the M6 non-toll (at a relatively quiet time), we would never use it again. The toll road is so much nicer! But if there's a better route around Birmingham do let me know...