A new behind the scenes documentary by the BBC will show what it takes to keep one of the country’s busiest motorways open.
The BBC2 documentary The Motorway: Life in the Fast Lane will show the “weird and wonderful things that can and do happen regularly” on the M6 motorway. The first of four episodes airs next Tuesday 9 September at 9pm.
The Highways Agency gave camera crews access to follow its staff and partners over six-months which included the storms and torrential rains of last winter. The result is a four-part series chronicling the work that goes into dealing with everything from life and death situations to collecting bizarre items of litter, against a backdrop of safely delivering millions of pounds of investment in England’s strategic road network.
While the documentary focuses on the work of the Highways Agency on the M6, primarily in the Midlands, many of the scenarios are common to every motorway in the country.
Graham Dalton, chief executive of the Highways Agency, said: “I think it’s important for us to show just how taxpayers’ money is spent on the strategic road network and at the same time answer all those burning questions drivers have about what happens on motorways like the M6, which play a major role in all our lives.”
The first episode, ‘Weight of Traffic’, looks at what goes into maintaining the M6, from workers negotiating live lanes of fast moving traffic, to crews toiling through the night to replace the road surface.
I agree Hugh, and thanks for the heads-up. BBC1 at 22:40 “So you think you can drive?” The BBC has a history of strong political bias in their road safety reporting, let’s hope they’ve done a more accurate and better researched program this time!
Dave Finney, Slough
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Pity they had to use the phrase ‘fast lane’, a common misnomer, but that’s the media for you. Of greater interest is another programme on BBC1 tonight about 22:30, on the subject of good driving.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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