M6 Junction 8 - M5 motorway merger -southbound up to the approach of Junction 2 M5.
Reported via desktop in the Road markings (NH) category anonymously at 12:39, Tue 24 November 2020
Sent to National Highways less than a minute later. FixMyStreet ref: 2403077.
There are serious problems with the road markings on the stretch of motorway where the the M6 mergers with the M5 at junction 8 - southbound. This continues beyond Junction 1, up to and beyond the point where the motorway straightens of heading towards Junction 2. The road markings separating the lanes are not clear enough. There are markings and metal strips which are difficult to see in low lying sunlight and or wet conditions; particuIarly, in the middle lane. If these road markings are not made clearly visible then there will be a serious accident where vehicles in the middle lane are unable to see clearly and inadvertently cross into another lane.
Updates
-
Thank you for your patience whilst our inspector reviewed your report. During the review our inspector doesn’t feel that this is causing any safety concerns at this time and remedial work isn’t required. Our inspector reported back to say that the white lines are in good condition and the lanes are clearly defined.
We will continue to review this and will arrange any required work if the situation changes.
If you require any further update on this issue our Customer Contact Centre is available 24 hours a day at: • 0300 123 5000
• info@highwaysengland.co.uk
Please quote 21786642 to discuss this matter further.
Kind regards Highways England
Posted by National Highways at 13:31, Wed 9 December 2020
-
The traffic which is already on m5 move straight across the lanes as there are no signage etc on all lanes showing traffic merging.
Lorries move straight across to the first lane with out giving room or time for the traffic to merge from the slip road.
As use this route three times a week and always there are risks.
Posted anonymously at 19:30, Tue 30 March 2021
-
I travelled to Tewksbury from the north on the M6 & wanted to avoid the M6 toll to the south & join the M5 south this was not clear & I ended up going on the M6 towards Birmingham as I hadn’t done this journey I was unable to change direction until I came to Corley services & tried to find my way back! I found my way back to get on to the M5 clearly marked to get to Tewksbury but have seen other remarks & seen lots of other people had this same problem! I’m 76 years of age & have driven all my life but found this very stressful
Posted anonymously at 18:39, Sun 20 June 2021
-
I travelled this stretch last Wednesday and almost had an accident with an H.G.V...why don,t the highway authority paint m5 and m6 marking s on the respective lanes leading up to the motorway separation zone...Motorists cannot fail to miss their correct lanes and would stop so much confusion.
Posted anonymously at 21:32, Thu 24 June 2021
-
I travelled this stretch last Wednesday and almost had an accident with an H.G.V...why don,t the highway authority paint m5 and m6 marking s on the respective lanes leading up to the motorway separation zone...Motorists cannot fail to miss their correct lanes and would stop so much confusion.
Posted anonymously at 21:33, Thu 24 June 2021
-
I travelled yesterday and the signage for joining M5 South were inadequate. The traffic was heavy and I ended up on the M42. This did John with M5 but created extra time, miles and stress. I have travelled from Gloucestershire to Manchester for years so not a stranger to the journey. But had I not had SatNav and had it bee late at night, the experience would have been very frightening.
Posted anonymously at 08:59, Sun 29 August 2021
-
I travelled yesterday and the signage for joining M5 South were inadequate. The traffic was heavy and I ended up on the M42. This did John with M5 but created extra time, miles and stress. I have travelled from Gloucestershire to Manchester for years so not a stranger to the journey. But had I not had SatNav and had it bee late at night, the experience would have been very frightening.
Posted anonymously at 08:59, Sun 29 August 2021
-
We have been travelling this way and agree with all posts. The m6 m5 junction is not marked clearly. We wish you would paint on the road as we ended up at corley services. It is dangerous. Please listen
Posted anonymously at 11:21, Sun 2 January 2022
-
We have been travelling this way and agree with all posts. The m6 m5 junction is not marked clearly. We wish you would paint on the road as we ended up at corley services. It is dangerous. Please listen
Posted anonymously at 11:21, Sun 2 January 2022
-
I have been driving from Scotland to Devon via the M6/M5 several times a year for the last five years. Twice I have missed the exit for the M5 and have continued down the M6 and driven all the way round Birmingham clockwise before joining the M5 south of Birmingham, near Bromsgrove. I have now realised that the M5 is not clearly marked from the M6. Looking at Google Street View, I can see what the problem is: the junction was changed between 2016 and 2017 with the removal of a lane to the M5 and the removal of the signs to the south west. Before that time, going south on the M6, there were two lanes for the M5 and two for the M6, and there were two sets of large blue signs above the lanes, one sign in each set saying, "M5 THE SOUTH WEST". Since 2016-17 there has only been one lane to the M5, not two, and both sets of blue signs have been changed. The first one has been removed and replaced with two small orange signs, neither mentioning the south west. The second sign is still there but the line saying "THE SOUTH WEST" has been covered over with a blue strip. So neither sign now says "THE SOUTH WEST" and the signage gives no indication at all that this is the junction for Bristol and the south west. To solve the problem, all that has to be done is to put the lanes and signs back as they were before 2016-17.
Posted anonymously at 13:09, Fri 18 March 2022
-
I am travelling down to the South West this week and am trying to memorise how to join the M5 from the M6. Last time I did this, I got lost and ended up on the M42. For a person travelling on their own, it is very stressful. I understand the junction I need is J8 but it would help if the South West was clearly sign posted.
Posted anonymously at 17:55, Mon 18 April 2022
-
Travelled this route today…and ended up going north around Birmingham….signage non existent . For those of us without satellite navigators pleas replace the old signage.
Posted anonymously at 18:41, Tue 19 April 2022
-
Went down south last year and ended up on the wrong road because of NO road proper road signage. Come on highways agency do your job properly then drivers don’t get lost and put hours on their journey trying to get on the right track
Posted anonymously at 09:44, Thu 2 June 2022
-
Did it again !!! Knew we needed junction 8 for South West but the lanes took us straight onto Junction 7 Had to come back the other side and clear in that side !! Please do something !!!
Posted anonymously at 12:08, Sun 17 July 2022
-
Have travelled M6/M5 for many years. Useless signage. Found myself eventually on the M42. Very frightening. Have to travel M6/M5 south again this coming week and am really nervous. I agree with all the above comments.
Posted anonymously at 13:40, Sun 28 August 2022
-
Have travelled M6/M5 for many years. Useless signage. Found myself eventually on the M42. Very frightening. Have to travel M6/M5 south again this coming week and am really nervous. I agree with all the above comments.
Posted anonymously at 13:41, Sun 28 August 2022
-
Have travelled M6/M5 for many years. Useless signage. Found myself eventually on the M42. Very frightening. Have to travel M6/M5 south again this coming week and am really nervous. I agree with all the above comments.
Posted anonymously at 13:41, Sun 28 August 2022
-
M6 M5 Junction what no is it
Posted anonymously at 10:33, Wed 14 September 2022
-
M6 M5 Junction what no is it
Posted anonymously at 10:35, Wed 14 September 2022
-
I agree with the numerous messages about the appalling and stressfull lack of proper signage whilst travelling from Scotland to Devon on the M6, then segueing to the M5. The stress is off the scale, and very dangerous, especially as there is no time to look for signs that aren't there particularly when being ushered along by following traffic. I've had many horrendous journeys due to this and still can't get it right despite having a good sense of direction, and driving all my longish life. PLEASE do somethign about it.
Posted anonymously at 15:38, Tue 20 September 2022
-
Please update on this, National Highways, and tell us whether the poor signage has been addressed! My son is an HGV driver and he said it was dangerous as no one knew which lanes were right for the M5 to the South West.
Posted anonymously at 19:04, Fri 23 September 2022
-
This stretch of the highway is a nightmare! Especially on the huge roundabouts where the road names are confused and poorly marked. I have just driven back from Wales to the Easy of England and it was incredibly stressful, especially with the volume of traffic in the area.
Posted anonymously at 22:53, Wed 22 March 2023
-
I don't think National Highways ever read these reports. Or take any action. It's still bad and there have been several drivers with suggestions for solving the problem. Get some signs up, Nat Highways - paint the lanes clearly! COME ON! It's now the end of March 2023 and this still hasn't been done. This has been ongoing since November 2020. Do something, before there is a bad accident. My son is also an HGV1 driver and says it's appalling.
Posted anonymously at 14:46, Mon 27 March 2023
-
Travelled down from Merseyside yesterday 17.4.23. heading for Devon. Still no signage, still don’t know where I was meant to swing off. Found myself on the M40/42 heading toward London. Luckily M42 connects to the M5 but I didn’t know this so was seriously stressed. Had been following signs to The South West but they disappeared. Very nerve racking, 30 years ago, huge The South West M5 sign & arrow straddling the left hand lanes so couldn’t go wrong. Now I discover what happened to me has been happening to others for years. Why hasn’t the issue been resolved?
Posted anonymously at 08:05, Tue 18 April 2023
-
I travel from Hereford to Stockport every couple of months to visit family. The big problem is finding the M5 south for Worcester on the return trip, as signage seems to change every trip. What an embarrassment for a major UK motorway! My recent trip was the worst by far, too many lanes, too few signs, I eventually headed for Birmingham city to pull over and restart gps to Worcester, success at last. I had 2 devices on gps and neither of them could give a clear route, something seriously wrong with the management of the M6/M5/sw junction, it’s a credit to the skill of motorists who manage to navigate it safely.
Posted anonymously at 10:06, Sun 24 September 2023
-
It is very reassuring to know that I am not the only person to 'dread' heading south down the M6, and finding my way onto the M5. I have made several of these journeys recently, and each time I have missed my exit because of inadequate signage. I do not regard myself as a stupid person, and have held a full license since 1972, but I have been made to feel paranoid about this section of the M6-M5. Other peoples experiences regarding this matter have reassured me that it is not me who is at fault, but the signs and road markings which are totally inadequate and dangerous. Someone is going to die if nothing is done to rectify this situation. Dave.
Posted anonymously at 11:06, Sun 22 October 2023
-
We too have had this problem, with the DREADFUL signage (or lack of it) when trying to navigate to the M5 south west, from the M6 in the north. After several attempts we still can't get it right ! This is a DISGRACE that Highways MUST address. Can we take legal action I wonder ?
Posted anonymously at 09:42, Sun 29 October 2023
-
We too have had this problem, with the DREADFUL signage (or lack of it) when trying to navigate to the M5 south west, from the M6 in the north. After several attempts we still can't get it right ! This is a DISGRACE that Highways MUST address. Can we take legal action I wonder ?
Posted anonymously at 09:45, Sun 29 October 2023
-
I missed this junction as well in November 2023, two of us were looking out for the signage as the weather was particularly abismal (torrential rain and a lot of spray) I saw one signn, but still ended up on the M42 as comments above, I'll be travelling from Scotland to the depths of the Southwest again several times this year, Junction 8 I hope I am ready for you and that increased signage is made, but that may be too much to hope for, I agree with all the comments made by others.
Posted anonymously at 11:55, Sunday 18 February 2024
Provide an update
Please note that updates are not sent to National Highways. Your information will only be used in line with our privacy policy