Access control system on the M6 motorway

In 1986 Access Control Ramp Metering became operational at Junction 10 South on the M6 in Birmingham. Since then access control has been installed at a further 5 sites: Junction 7 South; Junction 10 North; Junction 5 South; Junction 9 South; and Junction 9 North. Oscar Faber monitor and calibrate these six sites on behalf of the Highways Agency. This paper provides a summary of the current operation of the sites, describes current system performance and reports on the operational benefits which have arisen through the use of access control. The paper also presents possibilities to further improve system performance, to maximise the utility of data collected by the system; assessing possible benefits of providing transit time information to motorists about to join the motorway