Overnight closures have been announced for the M40 and M42 in South Warwickshire as work to install new barriers continue.

National Highways is aiming to replace the current steel barrier at the interchange between the two motorways with "a stronger and more efficient concrete one".

Works are expected to be completed in spring 2024.

National Highways now needs to remove traffic management equipment – barriers, cones, construction equipment and some of the signage – from the roads.

To do this safely, temporary lane and carriageway closures will be in place on a regular basis until early December.

This began yesterday (August 14) with lanes three and two closed, leading to full closure of the M40/M42 link road. This closure will be in place between 9pm and 6am until August 17.

There will be further weeknight closures throughout August.

Details of the upcoming closures at the M40-M42 interchange (image via National Highways)

"Motorists are advised to check before they travel because there will be a series of diversions to steer traffic away from the carriageway closures," National Highways said.

"These will take place at night, usually between 9pm and 6am, when traffic numbers are lower.

"The diversions will be clearly signposted and checked regularly."

See the full closures here.

Plans to turn the M40/M42 interchange into smart motorway were shelved over safety fears and rising costs earlier this year.

The government paused the £312 million works in Warwickshire alongside three other schemes at the start of 2022 saying more safety checks were needed.

Campaigners said smart motorways, which use the hard shoulder as live traffic lanes and technology to regulate congestion, are too dangerous.

In November 2021 MPs on the commons transport select committee said work should be stopped whilst more safety data was collected.

And now the scheme has been scrapped.

(Header image by David Dixon via geograph.org.uk)