Highways England has finished a £265m upgrade of M6 in Cheshire, UK, to add extra lanes and new technology to a 19-mile stretch of the motorway between Crewe and Knutsford.

As part of the upgrade, a fourth lane has been constructed in each direction of the motorway.

A total of 258 electronic signs, 104 traffic sensors and 70 CCTV cameras have been installed to deal with traffic congestion and decrease travel times for approximately 120,000 motorists daily.

Highways England said that the upgrade is the first of four smart motorway schemes that will boost the M6’s capacity by a third on 60 miles of the motorway between Coventry and Wigan.

Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan said: “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.”

Real-time information regarding changes in the speed limit, lane closures and incidents on the route will be provided by the newly installed overhead electronic signs.

“We are investing record amounts to improve journeys for people right across the country, including £13bn on transport in the north.”

Additionally, traffic sensors at the side of the road will automatically set variable speed limits to keep traffic moving. It will help avoid tailbacks and stop-start conditions caused by sudden braking.

Highways England’s traffic officers and the emergency services will be able to gain extensive coverage of the road provided by new CCTV cameras. It will help them quickly respond to emergency situations.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “We are investing record amounts to improve journeys for people right across the country, including £13bn on transport in the north.

“This upgrade will mean motorists in the north-west will get to work, the shops, or to visit friends and family more easily, quickly and safely.

“It also builds on other improvements in the region where drivers are already seeing the benefits of investment in the M60, M62 and the A556.”

Separately, Highways England has opened a 3.5-mile section of the A1 in Cambridgeshire that was widened from two to three lanes in each direction. The upgrade is part of Highways England’s £1.5bn project to improve the A14 and will benefit 31,000 drivers who use it every day.