The current Road Investment Strategy (RIS 1), which runs until 2020, will see smart motorway implemented on the M6, but only as far north as Wigan.

However, the second part of the Road Investment Strategy (RIS 2) may bring this development closer to Preston, as it aims to “build the smart motorway spine of the network” to connect major cities.

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Smart motorways are a technology-driven approach to improving journey reliability through features like driver information, queue detection, advanced CCTV coverage and areas where drivers can stop in an emergency.

The current RIS 1 M6 project aims to use these features to relieve congestion and smooth the flow of traffic, improve safety and journey times, and minimise environmental impacts.

Read more: Why you can’t drive north at M6 Junction 31a

The M6’s congestion and unreliable journey times are only predicted to worsen, and regular users of the motorway will be keen to find out if the new strategy will reach Preston.

But with RIS 2 still only in the research phase, it seems we’ll have to wait a while longer to find out in what direction Preston’s motorways will be heading.

Would you like to see smart motorways on the M6 near Preston? Let us know in the comments below.