Roads bosses have apologised after thousands of rush-hour drivers were stuck in gridlock caused by new roadworks surrounding Aston Expressway and Spaghetti Junction.
Drivers were caught out by junction closures which kicked in on Thursday morning as part of a seven-week plan.
Work is being carried out to resurface the A38(M) Aston Expressway as part of £4.7 million improvement drive.
The city-bound Gravelly Hill and Tyburn Road approaches to the Expressway were closed.
There was gridlock on the M6 north and southbound at Junction 6 and surrounding roads including Fort Parkway.
The city-bound Expressway lanes were also due be shut between 8pm and 6am, as they have been all week.
Drivers tweeted Highways England to tell of their anger.
One asked: “Why can’t you do the work at night?
“We still have to get to work on time.”
Another wrote: The situation is awful.
“I appreciate works have to be done but closing the main route into the city for people living north is causing chaos.”
Responding to the drivers, Highways England said it “appreciated their frustrations”.
The scheme, due to end on September 4, will see damaged concrete and waterproofing replaced on link roads around Spaghetti Junction.
The organisation said on its website: “Through the West Midlands, various parts of the M6 are on elevated sections, or viaducts, constructed from concrete.
“When M6 junction 6 was built, 45 years ago, nobody expected it would eventually shoulder the weight of 200,000 journeys every day.
“As the number of vehicles has increased, so has the amount of maintenance necessary to keep this road safe and open to traffic.
Project manager Jessica Kenny told the Mail: “We understand there is never a good time to do roadworks and apologise to motorists caught up in any congestion.
“We’ve planned these vital works closely with colleagues and local authorities in an effort to keep disruption to a minimum.
“We would encourage motorists to allow extra time and check their journeys before they travel.”
