M42 Junctions 1 to 3 (Bromsgrove to Redditch)
The first section of the M42 runs east from the M5 at Junction 4A, past Bromsgrove (Junction 1) and Hopwood (Junction 2), to the A435 for Redditch and Evesham (Junction 3). This is the Worcestershire end of the road, and it is the only place to stop before Tamworth.
What the junctions connect to
- M5 Junction 4A — the start of the M42. Southbound, the road splits for the M5 north (Birmingham, Stourbridge and the M6) and the M5 south (Worcester).
- Junction 1 — the A38 for Bromsgrove. You can leave here southbound; northbound it is an on-slip only.
- Junction 2 — the A441 for south Birmingham, and Hopwood Park services.
- Junction 3 — the A435 for south Birmingham, Redditch and Evesham.
How busy is this stretch?
| Stretch | Vehicles per day | Northbound | Southbound |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5 J4A to J1 | 98,893 | 47,517 | 51,376 |
| J1 to J2 | 115,815 | 55,820 | 59,996 |
| J2 to J3 | 114,179 | 54,901 | 59,278 |
© M42Traffic.co.uk · Statistics from the Department for Transport
The DfT records this part of the M42 as eastbound and westbound; the table shows eastbound as northbound and westbound as southbound, which is how the carriageways run.
On all three stretches the southbound side is busier. Vans make up a larger share here than on the middle of the M42 — about 18% to 19% of traffic.
The links to the M5
The DfT also counts the two links at the M5 end. The link from the M5 into the M42 carries 54,643 vehicles a day, and the link from the M42 onto the M5 carries 30,038 (an estimate). If you are coming from Worcester or Bristol, or heading that way, see M5 Traffic as well.
History
This end of the road includes the last part of the M42 to open. The section from the A435 to the A38 opened on 5 June 1986, and the link from the M5 on 19 March 1987, completing the motorway. An additional section through the Lickey Hills was cancelled in December 1981.
Before you set off
The news above covers this section. For the rest of the road see the latest M42 traffic news. Next section: Junction 3A and the M40.
Traffic count figures on this page are from the Department for Transport road traffic statistics, 2025.
Live traffic news at M42 Junctions 1 to 3
Incidents and roadworks between Junction 1 and Junction 4 that we are aware of.
M6 - M42 link road lane closure southbound
04:56 (4:56am)10 Nov 2026reported 5 min ago
- Location
- link road from M6 J4A southbound to M42 J8 southbound
- Direction
- Southbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Road improvement or upgrading
- Schedule
- 05:00 (5am) Mon 2 Nov 2026 → 05:00 (5am) Mon 7 Dec 2026
+ 11 more near Junctions 1 to 3 - see all the M42 traffic news →
This is the news for Junctions 1 to 3 only, not the whole M42. For the rest of the motorway see all the latest M42 traffic news, the overhead signs and the speed limits in force now.
Updated 05:02 (5:02am) Tue 10 Nov 2026