boomer

I am sure that many of you will have had the misfortune to use the M6 motorway through Birmingham. For the last EIGHTEEN MONTHS there have been continuous roadworks between J6 and J7 (Spaghetti to Great Barr) with narrow lanes and a SPECS enforced FORTY MILE AN HOUR speed limit.

The work began in June of last year, and was due to be completed by the end of this month (December 2002) - see http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/crib/works/m6.htm.

However, it has recently been announced that the completion will be delayed until the Spring of 2003 due to bad weather holding up the work [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

Funny that! Not a million miles away (or rather, actually joining the M6 in two places) is the as yet to be completed Birmingham Northern Relief Road (or M6 Toll as it is to be officially known) - see http://www.bnrr.co.uk/ for more info.

Now the M6 Toll was due for completion in early 2004, but things are running ahead of plan, and it is currently forcast for completion in September of next near - several months early

One of the key factors behind the rapid progress of the M6 Toll has been, wait for it, the "unusually good weather during 2002"!!!!

So, the government backed M6 repairs get delayed by exactly the same weather that speeded up the construction of a badly needed new road!!!

Obviously Midland Expressway (the one running the M6 Toll) have a financial incentive to get things completed as quickly as possible ('cos they can then start charging their tolls).

It is a shame that the Highways Agency/Government don't have the same enthusiasm for carrying out their job [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

mb

Gez

Im not surprised in the slightest. Sometimes i wonder where all our money goes.

Gez