Extended M40 will slash hauliers' teatime delays
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• The new stretch of the M40 opened yesterday (Wednesday). The 2300m motorway extension runs from Oxford, skirting Bicester, Banbury and Warwick, to join up with the M42 south of Birmingham.
According to the AA, the extension is expected to relieve the MI of 17,000 vehicles a day. It will cut an hour off journeys between Oxford and Birmingham and 30 minutes off the London to Stratford-upon Avon leg.
BRS at Oxford is among the local firms which welcome the extension. "It will undoubtedly be beneficial," says Barry Allen. "I anticipate that the new stretch will cut out completely the terrible delays that we've faced going through Banbury around teatime."
Birmingham-based Des Ponsonby welcomes the move, with reservations: "We will have to gauge congestion over the next 6-8 months."
Border battle
• Italy's haulage association, Unitai, could take the European Commission to court over a transit row with Austria.
Dealer dealt
▪ Spartruks, the West Country Mercedes-Benz truck dealership, has been taken over by the John Hewitt Group.
Tolled you
• The new Severn bridge, which is being given the goahead in Parliament this week, should be toll-free, according to the Freight Transport Association.