NEW systems for dealing with holiday traffic jams at junction 36 could be among a raft of suggestions to make it into a ten-year plan for the M6.

The seasonal congestion that can build up at the junction is just one among many problems to be tackled by the Highways Agency as part of the decade-long plan for the motorway through the North West.

Motorists are being invited to comment on the strategy that is being drawn up for the stretch from junction 20 at Warrington to the Scottish Border.

Issues that are being studied include:

l Maintenance works between junctions 34 (Lancaster north) and 36 (Kendal south).

l Review of seasonal congestion at junction 36.

l Investigation into night-time accidents between junctions 32 and 44 (Carlisle north).

l Electronic message/strategic signs to help motorists between junctions 36 and 44.

l Accident investigation and remedial action throughout Cumbria.

Spokesman for the Government in the North West Clive Naish said the plan would be designed to make the best use of the motorway, and improve capacity and road safety.

The proposal to reduce night-time accidents between junctions 32 and 44 was based on analysis of accident statistics, he said.

"There are large sections of that (stretch) that aren't lit and there are some issues about whether some of those sections could be lit which could improve the accident rate, but the reverse of that is that it goes through the national park, and there would be opposition to putting lighting on the motorway there."

The plan would help to prevent an ad hoc and possibly unnecessarily costly approach to developments on the M6, he said.

"It's looking at a plan for the motorway for the next ten years so everything is done in a systematic and holistic way.

"Sometimes there's no point doing some improvements if we are not doing others."

Money had been set aside through the Government's ten-year transport plan to make the changes.

Local people and organisations are being asked for comments about the draft proposals at exhibitions: today (Friday), Killington Lake southbound services 9am to 1pm; today, Tebay services northbound, 2pm to 6pm; and Tuesday, May 13, Southwaite services southbound, 2.30pm to 6.30pm.

May 9, 2003 10:30