M6 Toll Birmingham Opens Today Ahead of Schedule

09 December 2003

Macquarie Infrastructure Group (MIG) today announced that the M6 Toll, the UK’s first tolled motorway, is opening to traffic later today ahead of schedule.

The road is to be officially opened by the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling. The first vehicles on the M6 Toll will join the road from selected on-ramps and use any of the exit ramps. Other on-ramps will be opened to traffic over a five day phased opening process agreed between the operator of the road, Midland Expressway Ltd, police and the Highways Agency.

The staged opening has been designed to ensure a safe start for motorists on the new high-speed route. The road is expected to be fully operational by the weekend.

MIG owns 75% of Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL) and Autostrada SpA of Italy currently holds the remaining 25%. MIG has put and call options that are expected to result in MIG moving to 100% ownership of MEL by the end of 2005.

The 42km M6 Toll motorway will bypass Birmingham and connect with the existing M6 Motorway at both ends. The existing M6 through Birmingham is one of the most congested motorways in the UK, running at capacity for more than 12 continuous hours daily.

MIG Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Allen, said it was pleasing to be able to announce that the M6 Toll had been delivered on budget and ahead of time.

“After three years of construction and a total project cost of more than £900 million, UK motorists will now be able to experience the transportation and economic benefits of the M6 Toll. The road will deliver important benefits both to private motorists and to commercial and industrial traffic in this heartland region.

“The development and successful completion of the M6 Toll highlights MIG’s infrastructure expertise and its position as a significant participant in the global privatised infrastructure market,” he said.

Projected benefits of the M6 Toll include:

• The M6 Toll will reduce journey times through the West Midlands by up to 45 minutes (source: Trafficmaster)
  
• Regional investment agency InStaffs recently estimated the road has created up to 5,000 jobs and £270 million of investment in the West Midlands area.
  
• Midland Expressway Limited will employ up to 150 people, and a further 200 people will be employed at the motorway services area at Norton Canes

MIG expects to release traffic numbers for the first full week of operation and monthly thereafter.

Example of M6 Toll advertising campaign

Please see attached Midland Expressway Limited’s announcement to the UK media, which was released today.

• Dowload M6Toll announcement (pdf 71 KB)

For further information, please contact:

Bianca Francis
Investor Relations Manager
Mobile: (61) 413 279 523
Email: bianca.francis@macquarie.com

Media Enquiries
Jane Rotsey
Public Affairs Manager
Mobile: (61) 401 997 160
Email: jane.rotsey@macquarie.com