Man arrested after parts of M42 closed in both directions

Police were called due to welfare concerns of a man

Author: Amelia Salmons and Matthew CooperPublished 10th Jul 2025

A man has been arrested on suspicion of obstructing public infrastructure after a stretch of motorway in the West Midlands was closed in both directions for around five hours.

Police said the 52-year-old has also been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences, criminal damage and other offences.

Officers were called to the M42 between junctions four and five, near Solihull, following concerns for the welfare of a man on a bridge on Thursday morning, with National Highways confirming the road closure shortly after 6.30am.

National Highways said the incident was due to a police-led incident and had initially caused three miles of congestion on both carriageways.

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