1 active closure or restriction on the M42 right now.
On the M42 right now: 1 restriction (roadworks or a queue). No collisions or breakdowns are reported. It's listed as Lane 1 closure northbound (closing ERA), M42 northbound between J3A and J4.
Updated at 07:22 · refreshes every 5 min
No. Nothing unplanned is reported on the M42 right now: no collisions, breakdowns or obstructions in the National Highways feed. Nothing unplanned has been reported and cleared on the M42 since midnight either.
M42 accidents →Yes. 1 full closure is planned on the M42 tonight, starting with M42 southbound Jct 7a to 6 carriageway closure (Tonight 21:00 to 06:00). There are also 2 lane or slip road closures.
M42 closures tonight →No. Nothing is planned to close on the M42 this weekend.
M42 closures this weekend →M42 northbound between J3A and J4
M42 J2 northbound access
M42 J3 southbound access
M42 southbound between J7 and J6
Powered by National Highways’ Transport Data Feeds
The M42 is slowest around 16:00, averaging 43.9 mph against 62 mph when it is clear. Traffic is heaviest around 15:00.
Typical weekday pattern from 5 National Highways roadside sensors along the route, June 2026. Bar height is traffic volume, colour is average speed. Overnight hours carry too little traffic to judge, so they are shown as quiet.
Junction data © OpenStreetMap contributors
The M42 forms the eastern and southern side of the Birmingham motorway box, serving the NEC, Birmingham Airport and the M40, M6 and M6 Toll interchanges. It was Britain's first smart motorway, so variable limits and lane closures are managed actively along its whole length. Live incidents and closures refresh every 5 minutes.