A £20 million package of improvements will mark the 20th Anniversary of M6toll, as it celebrates two decades of keeping traffic moving through the Midlands. The technology upgrade will make it quicker to get through the toll lanes, easier to manage online accounts, and cheaper for thousands of local users.
Since opening in 2003, the M6toll has been a driving force in reducing congestion and pollution in the Midlands, attracting up to 65,000 vehicles from the M6 and regional road network on weekdays. Over 300 million customers have used the road over the past 20 years.
M6toll is known for its freeflowing traffic, and much of the upgrade is focused on improving the driving experience, ensuring that traffic continues to flow through the toll lanes, even at peak times. An enhanced Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, new contactless readers that accept smartphone payments and behind-the-scenes improvements to customer account management will combine to keep things moving, even on the busiest days. The ANPR system will also enable more sophisticated pricing to be introduced during the year, particularly benefiting those people who don’t travel the whole length of the route.
Michael Whelan, General Manager of the M6toll, said: “Thank you to our customers, partners, and
dedicated team members who have played pivotal roles in our journey over the past 20 years.
“As a commercial organisation, we receive no subsidy from the government, so all investment comes direct from the private sector, whilst toll income is used to maintain and operate the road to a world- class level.”
In conjunction with their 20th-anniversary celebration and the £20 million investment, M6toll has also unveiled a refreshed new brand identity, following its integration into the Aleatica portfolio. Aleatica is a smart, safe and sustainable mobility company dedicated to operating transportation infrastructure, with a footprint throughout Latin America and Europe. Fully owned by IFM Investors, the company oversees more than 360 million vehicles on its 1,110 km of infrastructure annually.
Find out more about the M6toll here: m6toll.co.uk.
For media enquiries, interview or photo requests please contact: pressoffice@m6toll.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
M6toll:
Midland Expressway Ltd are the constructors and operators of the UK’s first and only privately funded and maintained motorway, the M6toll.
Since its opening in 2003, our road has provided over £1billion of critical national infrastructure, all at no cost to the public purse and delivered on all of its strategic promise.
Midland Expressway is owned by the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund and GLIL Infrastructure, Both IFM and GLIL are renowned companies which believe in bold, long-term, and sustainable investment commitments and strategies aimed at creating and delivering positive benefits in people’s lives.
Strategically located at the centre of the UK motorway network, the M6toll’s arrival in 2003 was a welcome addition to tackling the congestion issues that had seriously impacted business growth in the Midlands region – and the wider UK. The M6toll is the route of choice for 15-18million journeys per year. As part of those journeys the road facilitates national north to south freight across the UK minimising the flow of HGV traffic through the crowded urban M6 corridor, including congested local routes.
Aleatica:
Founded in 2018, Aleatica is a leading transport infrastructure operator, with a vision of smart, safe and sustainable mobility. With an annual revenue of 930 million euros and over 2,880 employees, the
company currently manages 20 concessions: 16 highways, 2 ports, 1 light rail line, and 1 airport, across seven
countries in Europe and Latin America: Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. Aleatica is fully owned by the Australian fund IFM Global Infrastructure Fund, which is managed by IFM Investors, a pioneering leader in infrastructure investment.
