More closures have been announced for a section of the M42 next month for further works on two new bridges.

National Highways will close the motorway in both directions between junctions 5 and 6 from 10pm on Friday 5 May to 5am on Monday 8 May.

The same section of road was shut last October to allow the new bridges - weighing a total of 2,050 tonnes - to be moved into place as part of a £282 million upgrade.

National Highways says it is "upgrading" the junction to allow "better movement of traffic on and off the A45" in preparation for the new HS2 station near Birmingham Airport.

The work includes creating a new junction (5a) on the M42 and building a dual carriageway between this new junction and Clock Interchange.

The new Solihull Road bridge is expected to open by the end of July 2023.

Before this can be opened, National Highways needs to demolish the existing Solihull Road bridge to enable it to build slip roads for the new junction.

"To complete this work safely, we need to close the M42 in both directions between junctions 5 and 6 from 10pm on Friday 5 May to 5am on Monday 8 May," a statement said.

advertisement

"We'll also be carrying out work to remove gantries along the carriageway and prepare for the installation of new gantries.

"While the majority of this work can be carried out with narrow lanes in place, some overnight closures will be required."