Between Junction 7 and Junction 9, near Coleshill, the M42 crosses the M6 and connects with the southern end of the M6 Toll. Most of the junctions here only work in one direction, so it is worth knowing which one you need before you arrive.

Which junction does what

• Junction 7 — northbound exit for the M6 north towards central and north-west Birmingham. Southbound it is an on-slip only.
• Junction 7A — northbound exit for the M6 towards Coventry, and the M1 for London. It is a TOTSO junction southbound.
• Junction 8 — southbound exit for the M6 north towards Birmingham. Northbound it is an on-slip only.
• Junction 9 — northbound exit for the M6 Toll (the North West, Cannock, Lichfield). The signs here also point to Coleshill on the A446 and Kingsbury on the A4097. The variable speed limit ends just after this junction northbound.

The section between Junction 7A and Junction 9 was rebuilt as part of the M6 Toll works and now forms the link between the M6 and the southern end of the toll road, which opened in 2003.

How busy is the main line?

M42 Junctions 7 to 9 (M6, M6 Toll and Coleshill): vehicles a day, stretch by stretch

Stretch	Vehicles per day	Northbound	Southbound	Lorries
J7 to J7A	99,354	48,446	50,908	10,902
J8 to J9	104,732	55,839	48,894	16,242

© M42Traffic.co.uk · Statistics from the Department for Transport

The DfT labels these "LA boundary to 7a" and "M6 Toll and M42 Interchange North of Gilson – Junction 8 to M42 Junction 9". Junction 8 to Junction 9 carries more lorries than any other stretch of the M42, and is one of the few where northbound is busier than southbound.

The link roads

The DfT also counts the links in this area. We give them in the DfT’s own words, as the labels do not map neatly onto single slip roads:

The link roads

DfT description	Vehicles per day
M42 and M6 Interchange 4a to M42 N and S Interchange M6 Toll	53,431 (estimated)
Junction 7a to M6 Toll, southbound	48,066
Junction 7a to M6 Toll, northbound	39,598 (estimated)
M42 to M6 Toll North	31,420 (estimated)
M42 to M6 Toll South	16,566 (estimated)

© M42Traffic.co.uk · Statistics from the Department for Transport

Three further short count points in this area, recorded without a start or end name, carry between 10,545 and 15,535 vehicles a day.

Where to next

For the M6 and the M6 Toll themselves, see M6 Traffic. On the M42, heading north: Junctions 10–11, Tamworth and the A42. Heading south: Junctions 5A–6, the airport and the NEC.

Traffic count figures on this page are from the Department for Transport road traffic statistics, 2025.