The M54 to M6 Link Road was procured using the Regional Delivery Partnership framework, leading to a detailed design and build contract awarded by National Highways to Skanska Construction UK LTD on 23 October 2025. No future tendering exercises are scheduled on this scheme, given there is a contract in place.

The Preferred Route for the M54 to M6 Link Road scheme was announced in September 2018, following public consultation. The route selected provides the highest benefit to the local economy, the best journey time options, and was preferred by most of the respondents to the public consultation. The route includes a two-lane dual carriageway link road between M54 at junction 1 and M6 at junction 11.

Funding for the scheme was confirmed on 8 July 2025, following the conclusion of the Spending Review. The scheme will be formally confirmed as part of the setting of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), planned to be published by the end of March 2026.

Following the conclusion of the Spending Review, funding was confirmed for the delivery of the M54 to M6 Link Road scheme. National Highways is currently undertaking preparatory works to ensure the project is ready to start construction. The delivery programme for the scheme will be confirmed as part of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3).

On the 8th July, the Transport Secretary announced that the scheme will be progressing, following on from the Spending Review in June. £24 billion of capital funding is being provided between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve motorways and local roads. Scheme costs for the Strategic Road Network schemes including the M54 to M6 Link Road will be confirmed as part of the setting of the third road investment strategy (RIS3), planned to be published by the end of March next year.

The delivery timetable for the scheme will also be confirmed during the setting of the next Road Investment Strategy [RIS3], which begins in April 2026.

On the 8th July, the Transport Secretary announced that the scheme will be progressing, following on from the Spending Review in June. £24 billion of capital funding is being provided between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve motorways and local roads. Scheme costs for the Strategic Road Network schemes including the M54 to M6 Link Road will be confirmed as part of the setting of the third road investment strategy (RIS3), planned to be published by the end of March next year.

The delivery timetable for the scheme will also be confirmed during the setting of the next Road Investment Strategy [RIS3], which begins in April 2026.

On the 8th July, the Transport Secretary announced that the scheme will be progressing, following on from the Spending Review in June. The delivery timetable for the scheme will be confirmed during the setting of the next Road Investment Strategy [RIS3], which begins in April 2026.

The scheme is publicly funded and will support the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 June 2025, this Government will deliver notable improvements to people’s everyday travel by providing £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve roads across the country. Delivering faster, safer and more reliable journeys and unlocking economic growth across the country. We will provide updates on specific schemes in due course.

Funding for the M54 to M6 Link Road is subject to the multi-year Spending Review, and assurances cannot be provided on individual projects until the conclusion of the Spending Review.

The schemes in question are in different stages as follows:

Four schemes have been completed and are open to traffic.

The following three schemes are in construction and expected completion dates as follows:

As the Chancellor informed Parliament on 29 July, an internal review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio has been commissioned. The primary aim of the review is to provide strategic advice to the Secretary of State, which may in turn inform decisions on specific projects as part of the multiyear Spending Review. Schemes below are subject to this review and therefore we cannot give any assurances around delivery of these schemes until the Spending Review concludes.

Finally, the A5036 Princess Way scheme was cancelled in the Autumn Budget 2024.

A review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio has been commissioned, this will inform the Department’s new long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart and ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. Assurances cannot be provided on individual projects, including the M54 to M6 Link Road, until the review is concluded.

The proposed M54 to M6 link road in the Road Investment Strategy was most recently assessed as high value for money and with a benefit to cost ratio of 3.17.

I meet with National Highways regularly and will be happy to discuss any issues on the M54 motorway in Shropshire. National Highways are aware of minor recurring issues with drainage between the slip roads at M54 junction 3 on the eastbound carriageway, and the catch pit covers affecting both carriageways between junctions 3 to 4, and 6 to 7. These issues are present in extremely heavy rainfall, however, these locations are not recorded as flooding hotspots. These are recurring issues as they are prone to becoming blocked by straw blown off agricultural transport which uses this route very regularly.

National Highways regard the drainage system on the M54 as fit for purpose, and a routine maintenance regime is now in place to address the recurring issues on the route.

Highways England carry out a safety inspection of the M54 every 7 days to ensure the carriageway and physical infrastructure are in a safe condition for the travelling public. The condition of the road surface is inspected for safety defects at the same time and an additional comprehensive inspection is carried out annually. The results from these inspections are then reviewed by Highways England: if schemes are required for necessary improvements then these are designed and developed.

Highways England recently completed a resurfacing of the eastbound carriageway between junction 2 of the M54 and junction 10a of the M6 in May 2018. The westbound carriageway works for the same junctions were also completed in July.

Highways England have two schemes which are planned for the M54. M54 Junction 2 – Junction 3 barrier repairs are planned for later this year and M54 Junction 7, Wrong Way Driving Mitigation, is planned for early in 2019.

Highways England are currently developing their maintenance investment plan for the next financial year and any further improvements to the M54 will be announced in due course.

The traffic lights at junctions 4, 5 and 6 on the M54 do not affect the flow of traffic on the M54 itself and are not the responsibility of Highways England. The surrounding roads at all three of these junctions are managed and maintained by Telford and Wrekin Council. They will be best placed to advise on the effects these lights have on traffic flows on the surrounding roads.

Highways England’s forthcoming work on the next iteration of their Route Strategies is the means of assessing pressures and needs and generating proposals across the entire strategic road network, including the M54 and A5. The Route Strategies will inform the preparation of the next Road Investment Strategy. Any specific proposals that require investment will of course need to be underpinned by a strong and clear business case.

(a) With regard to current and future works on the M54 in Shropshire, there are currently no delays to the programme of works for the current financial year, 2015/16.

(b) For the forthcoming financial year, 2016/17, Highways England is in the process of finalising the programme of works. This will be completed by the middle of February. The proposed works are:

There have recently been problems with the concrete carriageway on the eastbound side of the M54 between junctions 3 and 2. Highways England has carried out a significant number of temporary repairs and is likely to undertake some more substantial repairs by the end of April 2016, whilst we investigate a longer term solution.

In last year’s Spending Round I provided the Highways Agency with a long term funding settlement that committed to treble the level of investment in major enhancements to our strategic road network by 2020-21. This marks the start of the biggest programme of investment in our roads since the 1970’s.

As part of that package I committed to fund the M54 to M6/M6 Toll Link Road subject to finalising options and agreement being reached on developer contributions. The Highways Agency are progressing this work and will update you on its progress in due course.

Following the meeting with my hon. Friend last year, I asked the Highways Agency to look into the case for and against reclassifying the A5 between the M54 and Shrewsbury as a motorway. The Agency has indicated that work to quantify costs associated with such a reclassification is almost complete but that identifying and evaluating the resulting benefits is proving more problematic. Further assessment will be necessary before a robust cost/benefit analysis can be completed. I have asked the Agency to liaise with my hon. Friend as this matter progresses.