The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 17 March 2017 but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.

A38 – Alrewas to Toyota: carriageway repairs

Southbound carriageway and all associated slip roads closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 23 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A38 – Claymills to A50 Wood End Lane: carriageway repairs

Southbound carriageway and all associated slip roads closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A449 – Gailey roundabout to Brewood Road: carriageway repairs

Northbound carriageway closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A449 – Gailey roundabout to Brewood Road: carriageway repairs

Southbound carriageway closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A46 – Kenilworth exit slip road to Stivichall rounadbout: carriageway repairs

Southbound carriageway closed overnight for one night from 8pm 21 March until 6am the following morning (22 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A5 – Gledrid roundabout and all approaches: carriageway resurfacing

Roundabout and all approaches closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A5 – M54 junction 7 to Preston Boats island: carriageway works

East and westbound carriageway closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 27 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Meir tunnel to Stanley Matthews Way: carriageway repairs

Westbound carriageway closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Heron Cross to Stanley Matthews Interchange Burton Road entry slip: carriageway repairs

Westbound carriageway closed 24 hour 7 days a week until 7 July. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Meir Interchange exit slip road to Catchems Corner: carriageway repairs

Eastbound carriageway and slip road closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 25 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – Wolstanton entry slip and Porthill exit slip roads: carriageway works

Northbound entry and exit slip roads closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – Porthill entry and Wolstanton exit slip roads: carriageway works

Southbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – M6 junction 16 to Alsager exit and entry slip roads: carriageway repairs

Southbound exit and entry slip roads closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – M6 junction 16 to Talke exit slip road: carriageway repairs

Southbound carriageway and associated exit slip road closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 24 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – junction 15 to M42 junction 3a: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway and associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – junction 16 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound entry slip road closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – junction 15 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound entry slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – junction 3a M42 to M40 link road: carriageway works

Southbound carriageway closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 1 exit and entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound exit slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 6 exit slip road: carriageway works

Northbound exit slip road closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 20 March until 19 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 5 entry slip to junction: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 13 March until 25 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 5 entry and exit slip roads: carriageway works

Northeast exit slip road and southwest exit and entry slip roads closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 2 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound entry slip road closed overnight for one night from 9pm 23 March until 6am the following morning (24 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junction 4a to junction 5: carriageway works

Southbound carriageway closed between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 21 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junction 5 to junction 4a: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway including northbound entry slip at junction 5 closed on 20 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junction 6 to junction 5: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway including northbound entry slip at junction 6 closed from 20 March to 24 March and on 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junction 5 to junction 6: carriageway works

Southbound carriageway including southbound entry slip closed from 20 March until 24 March and 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M50 – junction 4 to junction 2: carriageway repairs

Westbound carriageway closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 25 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M50 – junction 4 to junction 2: carriageway repairs

Eastbound carriageway closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 24 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 5 to junction 6: carriageway repairs

Westbound carriageway closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 5 entry slip road: carriageway repairs

Westbound entry slip road closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 4 slip roads: carriageway repairs

Eastbound slip roads closed overnight between 8pm and 5am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 4 slip roads: carriageway repairs

Westbound slip roads closed overnight between 8pm and 5am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 4 entry slip road to junction 3: carriageway repairs

Eastbound carriageway and entry slip road closed overnight for one night from 10pm 22 March until 6am the following morning (23 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 10 to junction 7 including junction 10 and 9 entry slip roads and link from M5: carriageway works

Southbound carriageway and associated slip roads closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 11 entry slip road to junction 10 exit including M54 junction 1 entry slip road: carriageway works

Southbound carriageway and associated slip roads closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 25 March until 27 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 7 to junction 10 including junction 9 entry slip and link from M5 northbound: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway and associated slip roads closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 10 entry slip to junction 11 exit slip road: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway and associated slip roads closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 25 March until 27 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 2 entry slip road to junction 4 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway and associated slip roads closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 24 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 8 southbound to M5 junction 1 southbound (Western Arm): carriageway works

Southbound Western Arm closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 20 March until 25 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 7 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound entry slip road will be closed from 9pm 24 March ongoing until 6am 27 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 7 to junction 8: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway closed overnight between 9pm and 9am from 24 March until 27 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 8 to M5 southbound (Western Arm): carriageway works

Southbound carriageway closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 11 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound entry slip road closed overnight for one night from 8pm 20 March until 6am the following morning (21 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – Hilton Park Services exit and entry slip roads: carriageway works

Southbound exit and entry slip roads closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 27 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 9 exit slip road: carriageway works

Southbound exit slip road closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 9 entry slip road: carriageway works

Southbound entry slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 20th March until 26th March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 15 entry slip road junction 16: carriageway works

Northbound entry slip road to junction 16 will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 21 March until 24 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 16 to junction 15: carriageway works

Southbound carriageway closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 21 March until 24 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 13 exit slip road: carriageway works

Southbound exit slip road closed overnight for one night from 9.45pm 22 March until 5.30am the following morning (23 March). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 2 exit slip road: carriageway works

Southbound exit sip road closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 24 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 4 to junction 3 including M42 junction 7a link and junction 4 entry slip road: carriageway works

Southbound carriageway, link road and entry slip road closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 25 March until 27 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 3 entry slip road to junction 2 exit slip including M69 link road: carriageway works

Southbound carriageway including the slip roads and link road closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 25 March until 27 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M69 – junction 2 exit slip road: carriageway works

Northbound exit slip road closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 24 March until 26 March. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

First and foremost, my thoughts are with the family of Martin McGuinness at this sad time.

While I can never condone the path he took in the earlier part of his life, Martin McGuinness ultimately played a defining role in leading the Republican movement away from violence. In doing so, he made an essential and historic contribution to the extraordinary journey of Northern Ireland from conflict to peace.

While we certainly didn’t always see eye-to-eye even in later years, as deputy First Minister for nearly a decade he was one of the pioneers of implementing cross community power sharing in Northern Ireland. He understood both its fragility and its precious significance and played a vital part in helping to find a way through many difficult moments.

At the heart of it all was his profound optimism for the future of Northern Ireland – and I believe we should all hold fast to that optimism today.

I want to extend my sympathy and sincere condolences to the family of Martin McGuinness at this difficult time.

Martin’s personal journey and the clear influence he had on others in the Republican movement were instrumental in shaping political institutions in Northern Ireland founded on exclusively peaceful and democratic means.

While not forgetting the past, no-one can doubt the essential role he played in helping to secure the power sharing arrangements and political progress in Northern Ireland. Martin’s commitment to reconciliation and understanding across communities was a significant factor.

Whilst passionate and robust in his politics, on a personal level I always found Martin to be thoughtful and reflective and appreciated the personal consideration he showed. The importance of family and his home in Derry shone through.

Martin will be remembered for his contribution to politics in Northern Ireland and particularly during his near ten years as deputy First Minister.

Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood said;

“New EU sanctions against those involved with chemical weapons use in Syria represent a significant step in holding those who have used chemical weapons to account. We are sending a clear message that chemical weapons are completely unacceptable. Along with our international partners, the UK will continue to seek justice for the victims of these heinous attacks and to deter the further use of chemical weapons in Syria and elsewhere.”

Note to editors:

For further details, the EU press release can be read here.

Further information

The Princess unveiled a plaque at Portsmouth Naval Base this afternoon (Mon 20 Mar 17) officially naming the vast berth as The Princess Royal Jetty. It will be home to the Royal Navy’s two new 65,000-tonne Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

Formerly known as Middle Slip Jetty, the berth has been upgraded and strengthened to support the carriers as part of a raft of infrastructure upgrades taking place ahead of the arrival of the first ship – HMS Queen Elizabeth – later this year.

The Princess Royal Jetty from above

Her Royal Highness met some of the workers involved in the jetty’s two-year refurbishment, as well as Royal Navy bomb disposal experts responsible for safely disposing of historic ordnance. A number of wartime devices have been recently uncovered by dredging work in preparation for the arrival of the two new aircraft carriers. The Portsmouth Naval Base Commander, Commodore Jeremy Rigby, hosted the visit by The Princess Royal. As Commodore-in-Chief for Portsmouth, she is a frequent visitor to the naval base and takes a keen interest in activities there.

Cdre Rigby said:

It was a privilege to welcome Her Royal Highness back into the naval base to officially name this historic jetty.

Work continues at a pace to get our naval base ready for the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth later this year and the excitement builds as we now enter the final stages of work, testing and training ahead of her arrival.

The jetty, parts of which date back over 90 years, has been refurbished in addition to the dredging of the approach channel, inner harbour area and berth in order to make them deep and wide enough for the new ships, moving three million cubic metres of clay, sand and gravel from an area the size of 200 football pitches.

Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin, said:

The work on The Princess Royal Jetty is a fantastic example of how we are investing in the future of the Royal Navy and is the culmination of £100m of infrastructure upgrades in Portsmouth in preparation for our two new aircraft carriers.

The Queen Elizabeth class carriers, together with our F-35 jets will transform our ability to project power around the world.

Bespoke navigational lights, a high-voltage electrical supply and specialist carrier-specific gangways, known as ‘brows’, are also being provided as part of the £100m programme of works. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has worked with VolkerStevin and BAE Systems to deliver the package of infrastructure needed for the carriers.

Last week, the giant American supply ship USNS Robert E Peary tested the strength of the new jetty by coming alongside in Portsmouth. The US ship, which despite its mammoth size is still 200ft shorter than the Queen Elizabeth carriers, was the first vessel to use the jetty since its completion.