Suspected Second World War shell found near M6 forces motorway to a standstill

A suspected World War Two explosive find by a busy stretch of the M6 motorway prompted the road to be closed leading to huge tailbacks. The M6 motorway was closed at around 2pm after the discovering of a WW2 shell in Chillinghome Road, in Hodge Hill[1], on Tuesday (August 15).

The find was made in the residential street, which runs parallel to the motorway and is just yards away, leading to the motorway being closed in both directions between Junction 6 – Spaghetti Junction[2] and the turn off for Birmingham city centre[3] and Erdington and Junction 4 the Coleshill Interchange by the M42.

The A38(M) Aston Expressway[4] was also closed as a result of the incident with buses diverted from the city via Lichfield Road and into the city via Heartlands Parkway. Traffic built up leading to four-mile tailbacks on the M6 to Junction 8, the junction for the M5, on the southbound carriageway.

At one stage passengers headed to Birmingham Airport[6] were warned of delays and urged to allow extra time. But the bomb squad was brought in to examine the suspected shell and it was determined not to be a threat.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police[7] said: “We were called after a suspected WW2 shell was found in Chillinghome Road, Hodge Hill. The EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) attended and following an assessment it was established it wasn't a grenade.”

National Highways then Tweeted: “This incident is now clear, and the M6 is now fully OPEN both ways between J4 (M42) and J6 (near Birmingham).

“Long delays remain in the area but should now start to ease. Thanks for your patience if you've been held up this afternoon.”

References

  1. ^ Hodge Hill (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  2. ^ Spaghetti Junction (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  3. ^ Birmingham city centre (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  4. ^ A38(M) Aston Expressway (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  5. ^ M6 incident live road reopens after police incident closure (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  6. ^ Birmingham Airport (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  7. ^ West Midlands Police (www.birminghammail.co.uk)

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