The M6 Toll bypasses one of the most congested motorways in the UK
LENGTH
43 kilometres
NUMBER OF LANES
3 lanes in each direction
TOLLS
Vehicle type
Day Toll (GBP)
Night Toll (GBP)
Motorcycle
2.50
1.50
Car
4.50
3.50
Car plus trailer
8.00
7.00
Van
9.00
8.00
Truck
9.00
8.00
TOLL PRICE ESCALATION
At the discretion of M6 Toll
TOLL COLLECTION
Cash, electronic and credit card
CONCESSION END
2054
Nature of the asset
The M6 Toll (formerly known as "Birmingham Northern Relief Road"), was tendered in the late 1980s as the first user-tolled motorway project in the United Kingdom. The route bypasses substantial congestion around the City of Birmingham on the M6 Motorway. It opened to traffic on 9 December 2003.
The M6/M1 is the key motorway linking London with the key industrial areas of the West Midlands, the North West and Scotland. Where it runs through the city of Birmingham, the M6 is one of the UK's busiest and most congested motorways. Prior to the M6 Toll opening, some sections of the M6 carried up to 100% more traffic than this type of road was designed for.
Nature of the investment
In 1992, the UK Government signed a concession agreement with Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) to first obtain planning approval and then design, build, finance and operate the M6 Toll. Having progressed the scheme through the public inquiry and planning processes, including the preparation of an environmental impact statement, MEL arranged finance and tendering and negotiated the construction contract for the project. Financial close was reached on 29th September 2000.
MIG owns 100% of the equity in Midland Expressway Limited. The 53 year concession agreement commenced 26 January 2001 under which the concession company has the exclusive right to set tolls for the entire concession period.
