Birchley Island has been beset with congestion and delays for years. Planned works involve widening the existing carriageway on the roundabout to increase capacity. Additional lanes will also be added, while facilities for pedestrians and cyclists will be improved. Singals will also be improved to increase capacity. The overall cost of the scheme is £30.1m, with £24m coming from the Government and Sandwell Council contributing £5.7m. The island, at the intersection of the M5, A4123 and A4034, connects parts of the West Midlands and the southern part of the Black Country to the national motorway network. Pic: Google satellite The move was announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps at the weekend.
Government announces £93m investment for road upgrades
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed £93m for three major road upgrade schemes across the country, including two schemes funded as part of the major road network (MRN).
Despite making a set-piece announcement, the DfT did not initially specify which funding stream the cash for the projects would come from.
More than half the new cash will be spent in the North, with up to £56m for a ‘dramatic overhaul’ of the Kex Gill section of the A59 in North Yorkshire, which the Department for Transport (DfT) said will significantly improve connectivity between of Harrogate and Skipton.
Pic: Google A MAIN Oldbury road has closed for a week, causing disruption for motorists, while urgent sewer repair works are carried out. Birchfield Lane, off Birchley Island, closed to traffic today (Tuesday January 12) until next Tuesday (January 19) in the direction of Blackheath. Sandwell Council said the closure is likely to cause disruption to all routes in the area and urged motorists to avoid the area at busy times. It said motorists will not be able to turn right on to the McDonald’s car park off Birchfield Lane for the duration of the works. Amey and Severn Trent are carrying out repairs to sewers in the area.