Plans for a new link road aimed at easing congestion around one of the region's most notorious motorway junctions have been unveiled.

Highways England announced in December that it was launching a consultation into three different proposals for the network around junction six of the M42.

The government agency has now unveiled which of the three choices will be carried out as part of a £282 million project.

The preferred route will see a new 1.5-mile dual carriageway link road constructed to the west of Bickenhill between the A45 Clock Interchange and a new exit on the M42 south of junction six near Solihull Road.

This junction will allow access to the NEC and airport for vehicles travelling north only on the M42 after junction five.

The proposal (see map below) is a slightly modified version of one of the options unveiled during the consultation in order to avoid a local business and reduce the effect on the Bickenhill Meadows which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Highways England said this option was supported by 64 per cent of the people who responded to the consultation, including 60 per cent of the local residents.

Junction six of the M42 is renowned for its traffic problems as it serves Birmingham Airport, the NEC complex, including Resorts World and Genting Arena, and the National Motorcycle Museum as well as connecting to the A45 Coventry Road.

The high-speed rail line HS2 will also have a station when it opens in 2026 at the UK Central development nearby.

As part of the wider scheme, there are also plans to improve traffic flow at the junction six roundabout with dedicated left turn links between the M42 and A45 at the NEC and the north east side of the roundabout.

Map of the proposed new link road near junction six of the M42
Map of the proposed new link road near junction six of the M42

Highways England will also be undertaking other improvement works to this roundabout, Clock Interchange and the section of the A45 between the two sites.

New local roads are also proposed around Catherine de Barnes Lane and St Peters Lane.

A further consultation is due to be held so the public can have their say on the detail of the project, either later this year or early in 2018.

Construction is expected to start in 2020 and completion is due in 2023.

This is the latest major project in the area after the A45 was redrawn to allow Birmingham Airport to extend its runway in order to accommodate long-haul flights.

Highways England senior project manager Jonathan Pizzey said: "The recent consultation was a great way to ensure that we heard the opinions of local residents and businesses in the area and also for them to have a say in the project as it moves forward.

"This is a vital scheme which will support economic growth in the area and beyond. It will also improve access to HS2, the NEC, Birmingham Airport and future developments such as the UK Central development area."

Birmingham Airport chief operating officer David Winstanley added: "This junction is a critical part of the road network which provides access to many of the region's biggest employers but is currently heavily congested.

"It is therefore vital that better access is provided to ease current congestion and cater for the future growth of both Birmingham Airport and the surrounding UK Central area.

"We will continue to work with Highways England to ensure that our emerging masterplan aligns with the scheme so that passengers using Birmingham Airport in years to come benefit from the improvements."