More roadworks ahead for city centre motorists

Jan 19 2007 By Ben Hurst, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM motorists were today hit by another roadworks hammer blow.

The A38 Bristol Road, a major artery into the city centre, is being targeted for four weeks of engineering.

This will mean motorists will be hit by lane closures and yet more tailbacks.

The city centre has already been crippled by slip road closures at St Chad's roundabout at the end of the A38 Aston Expressway.

The roadworks, which are part of £400 million revamp of the area to enable strengthening work to be carried out on the A38 Queensway tunnel under the city centre, are set to last for six months.

The first week has seen huge queues and often near gridlock conditions. And it shows no sign of easing.

In a bid to free up traffic, 40 bus services have been re-routed.

But the road work also coincides with the closure of Priory Queensway, which links Colmore Circus and Old Square, which was open on a temporary basis for the last few months.

Work will get under way in Bristol Road at its junction with Priory Road, Edgbaston on Monday.

The new project will hit people travelling into the city centre from the south, while the St Chads scheme is already delaying those from the north.

Engineers will be installing a controlled pedestrian crossing.

In a bid to limit the chaos for commuters and parents taking their children to school, work will take place between 10am and 3pm.

Council officials say the work should last for four weeks.

The city council will monitor the traffic flow through a CCTV control room and has pledged to control traffic signals manually to to help tackle jams.