ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

The M6 Motorway (Sandwell, West Midlands) (50 m.p.h. Speed Limit and Suspension of Regulation 9 of the Motorways Traffic Regulations) (Experimental) Order 1998. The Secretary of State for Transport hereby gives notice that he has made an Order under sections 9 and 10 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which is to allow vehicles to use the hard shoulder of the northbound and southbound carriageways of the M6 Motorway between junctions 7 and 8 as running lanes and to impose a 50 miles per hour speed limit on that southbound lane.   The Order, which is an experimental Order, will come into force on 2nd February 1998, for a period not longer than 18 months.   Traffic movements will be monitored throughout the whole of the experimental period or until such times as enough evidence is gathered to show the success or otherwise of the experimental Order.   Any person who desires to question the validity of, or of any provision contained in, the Order, on the ground that it is not within the powers with respect to the Order conferred by the above Act, or on the ground that any requirement of, or of any Instrument made under, any provision of that Act has not been complied with in relation to the Order, may, within 6 weeks of 19th January 1998, apply to the High Court for the suspension or quashing of the Order or of any provision contained therein.   A copy of the Order may be inspected during normal office hours at the offices of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Wigmore, Pennyhill Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands; or obtained by application to the Highways Agency, Network and Customer Services (Midland), Heron House, 49-53 Goldington Road, Bedford MK40 3LL, quoting reference Area 12/28/16/01. T. Nash, a Higher Executive Officer in the Highways Agency.