Commuters rejoice - the M6 roadworks between Crewe and Knutsford are FINALLY over - and the new smart motorway is fully open in both directions.
As part of the project, a fourth lane has been added in each direction. Some 258 electronic signs have also been added, as well as 104 traffic sensors and 70 CCTV cameras to tackle congestion and improve journey times.
Around 120,000 drivers use the 19-mile stretch on a daily basis.
Highways England spent £265m on the improvements.
It is the first of four smart motorway schemes to be finished on the M6, increasing capacity by a third on the 60 mile stretch between Coventry and Wigan.
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Jim O’Sullivan, chief executive of Highways England, said: "We have delivered the biggest upgrade to the M6 since the motorway opened in Cheshire almost 60 years ago, and it will mean quicker and more reliable journeys for everyone from businesses making long-distance deliveries to commuters getting to and from work.
"Tens of thousands of drivers travel on the M6 between Crewe and Knutsford each day making it one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country, so the extra lanes and new technology will help make the M6 fit for the future."
On smart motorways, sensors set variable speed limits to keep traffic moving and prevent tailbacks.
Electronic overhead signs inform drivers about changes to the speed limit or incidents ahead.
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The new CCTV cameras will provide extensive coverage of the motorway so the emergency services can respond to incidents quickly.
Although the hard shoulder been converted into an extra lane, there are frequent emergency areas so drivers have a safe place to stop if they break down.
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