Work to extend West Midlands Metro to Edgbaston is set to hit another milestone this September as construction ramps up on Broad Street.
Bus services 9, 10, 10H, 12, 12A, 13, 13A, 126, X8, X10 will not stop along Broad Street between Monday 2 September and spring 2020 while this essential work takes place. Services 23 and 24 travelling out of the city will also be diverted.
Cars, taxis and delivery vehicles will be able to access Broad Street between Sheepcote Street and Gas Street.
The many hotels, bars, shops, restaurants and visitor attractions in the area and Five Ways roundabout remain open for business as usual.
Work on the extension from Grand Central to Centenary Square is nearing completion with it anticipated to open in December 2019.
The diversion is needed so work can start on the next leg of the line from Centenary Square, through Five Ways to Edgbaston. The extension is part of wider expansion of the Metro network which is owned by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Customer research by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the WMCA, has shown that since the closure of Five Ways underpass, which took place earlier in the summer, 52% of people have changed their journeys.
Results also show the number of people car sharing has increased by almost 10%.
Five Ways underpass will remain closed until the Metro extension to Edgbaston is completed in 2021.
Anne Shaw, director of network resilience at TfWM, said: “A huge thank you to everyone who made a change earlier this year when the underpass closed. We are thrilled to see there has been so many changes to car journeys.
“Our work is not over yet. The essential bus diversion on Broad Street will mean people need to check how their journeys are affected before they return to school and work, in September.”
The extension is part of TfWM’s ten-year plan to manage congestion, by giving people more choices for travel along one of the busiest corridors in Birmingham.
The plan includes delivering temporary measures such as optimising traffic signals or reducing on-street parking to speed up buses through disruption and could be adjusted while the work takes place.
Camera enforcement of the bus gate on Sheepcote Street will be introduced later in the year, to ensure bus passengers have priority.
Cllr Waseem Zaffar, Birmingham City Council cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “Investment in Birmingham’s public transport network is bringing fantastic benefits to the city, connecting people across the region and making it easier for those travelling in the area to get around.
“While works continue, it is important that people plan ahead and follow the travel advice provided to minimise disruption to their journeys.”
Michael Thomas, leading the project for the Midlands Metro Alliance, the organisation building the metro network on behalf of the WMCA, said: “We recognise that there will be some disruption to those living, working, travelling and visiting the city during this vital next stage of Metro works.
“We are working closely with Birmingham City Council, local Business Improvement Districts, TfWM and public transport operators to minimise impact.
“As with our other projects, we aim to ensure the local economy benefits by sourcing goods and labour, wherever possible, from the local supply chain.”
For detailed information, maps and to check how your journey may be affected, please visit: www.networkwestmidlands.com/
