Major motorway bridge closes after drivers repeatedly ignored weight limit despite safety fears

A major bridge on the M42 has been closed after drivers repeatedly ignored a safety weight limit put in place to protect the ageing structure.

National Highways shut the North Bridge at Junction 6 near Birmingham Airport from 4pm on Monday after engineers found serious structural damage and warned the bridge could no longer remain open safely.

The bridge had already been reduced to one lane before a 7.5-tonne weight restriction was introduced to reduce pressure on the structure.

However, National Highways said there had been "repeated breaches of the weight limit, which was put in place to safeguard the bridge".

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Following further inspections, surveys and daily monitoring, engineers decided the safest option was to close the bridge completely.

The motorway beneath the bridge remains open in both directions, but drivers using the junction are being diverted and warned to expect delays.

The problems were first discovered during routine inspections in November 2025, when engineers found deterioration in the bridge.

According to National Highways, inspections revealed "damage to the concrete and some corrosion of the steel reinforcement".

The bridge, which opened in 1976, has since been monitored by structural engineers carrying out extensive surveys.

National Highways said: "Following further extensive surveys and monitoring of the structure, we've now closed the bridge to all traffic to help protect the structure."

The organisation said detailed inspections will continue to "understand the full extent of the deterioration" and "determine the most appropriate remediation options".

There is currently no date for when the bridge will reopen. National Highways said the restrictions will remain in place "until further notice" while specialist engineers assess the damage and decide what repairs are needed.

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A National Highways spokesman said: "Safety has to be our priority, which is why we have taken the decision to close the structure now.

"This is a developing situation, and we are working with structural engineering experts and consultants to understand the results of inspections and surveys and consider what our options are. We will provide further updates as soon as we are able to do so."

Drivers have been urged to follow signed diversion routes rather than relying on sat navs, with congestion expected during peak travel times. Despite the closure, traffic travelling underneath the bridge on the M42 is unaffected.

The bridge sits close to Birmingham Airport, the NEC, Birmingham Business Park and Jaguar Land Rover, with National Highways stating it is working closely with those organisations to minimise disruption.

The highways body has also stressed that the bridge's condition is not linked to the recently completed £282million M42 Junction 6 improvement scheme carried out by Skanska.

National Highways said: "The deterioration was known at the time but was not part of the scope of that project."

All National Highways bridges are inspected under national standards, with general inspections carried out every two years and more detailed inspections every six years.

Engineers will continue daily monitoring while specialist consultants determine the extent of the damage and decide what repairs are needed.

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