For West Midlands drivers, Wednesday evening on 5 August has a clear planning point: several scheduled overnight closures are due to begin at 20:00 or 21:00. The safest decision is not to race the clock. It is to check the live position early, choose a realistic departure window and prepare for a signed diversion before moving.
National Highways currently lists overnight work on the A46, M42 and M6. The A46 southbound between M6 junction 2 and Walsgrave is scheduled to close from 20:00 to 06:00, Monday to Friday, through 11 August. The A46 between M6 junction 2 and Ansty Business Park is also listed for 20:00 to 06:00 closures through 7 August. On the M42, southbound junctions 9 to 8 are scheduled to close from 21:00 to 06:00 on weeknights through 18 August. The M6 southbound between junctions 6 and 5 is listed for full weeknight closure from 21:00 to 06:00 between 3 and 14 August.
These are planned programmes, not guarantees. Weather, site conditions and operational decisions can change the timing. Check the National Highways West Midlands maintenance page, the latest closure report and live traffic information before leaving.
1. Make the departure decision before the closure window
If your route uses one of the affected sections, compare three options while you are still parked: leave with enough margin to pass the area before traffic management starts, use a sensible alternative from the beginning, or delay the journey until conditions are clearer. A rushed attempt to “beat” a 20:00 closure can create more risk than a planned diversion.
- Check the whole route, including the return leg.
- Allow time for queues as traffic moves towards diversion points.
- Confirm that fuel or charge is enough for the longer route.
- Share the revised arrival time before setting off.
Do not stop on a live carriageway to change navigation. If the route needs resetting, continue to a safe service area, car park or other legal stopping place.
2. Prepare for dusk and a longer journey
Evening light can fall quickly, especially after a tiring day. Clean the windscreen inside and out, check mirrors, lights, washer fluid and tyre condition, then secure loose bags and drinks. Set the route and audio before moving. If you feel tired, take a proper break; opening a window or turning up music is not a substitute for rest.
Keep a charged phone and charging cable available, but do not rely on the phone as the only source of directions. A written note of the main diversion roads or a paper map can help if the signal drops. Keep water in the car and know where the torch and first-aid kit are stored.
3. Keep a roadside kit organised, not scattered
A useful kit should be easy to identify and secured so that it cannot roll around the cabin. A high-visibility vest should be reachable before anyone steps out of the vehicle. A warning triangle can be useful on many ordinary roads when it is safe and legal to place one, but never place a warning triangle on a motorway. A window breaker and seatbelt cutter should be stored inside the passenger compartment, within reach of a belted occupant, rather than buried in the boot.
A compact all-round roadside option
The JUFO 3-in-1 Roadside Breakdown Kit is £17.95 and combines a high-visibility vest, warning triangle and 2-in-1 window breaker with seatbelt cutter. Store the vest and triangle securely in the boot, and move the escape tool to a fixed, accessible position inside the passenger compartment.
4. Follow the diversion calmly
Use official diversion signs and temporary speed limits rather than informal shortcuts. Expect unfamiliar junctions, narrow local roads, cyclists and pedestrians. Leave extra space, signal early and avoid last-second lane changes. If one route appears congested, do not make repeated spontaneous turns; move to a safe stopping place and reassess.
If a breakdown occurs on a motorway, follow current official guidance. If the vehicle can be driven, move to an emergency area or another safer place away from moving traffic. Leave by the side furthest from traffic when it is safe, get behind a safety barrier if possible and contact the appropriate service. In immediate danger, call 999.
Your Wednesday evening plan
Before departure, confirm four things: the live route is open, the chosen timing is realistic, the car is ready for dusk and the roadside equipment is secured in the right place. That simple decision made before 20:00 can turn an uncertain evening drive into a controlled journey.
Roadwork schedules can change at short notice. Always follow live signs, police instructions and official travel information.
