Green light for £11.7m Chester Road improvements

Work can start on an £11.7 million scheme to tackle congestion on the A452 Chester Road in Castle Bromwich and Castle Vale, after the government gave the project its final approval.

The Transport Minister, Baroness Kramer, confirmed on 24 October that the Department for Transport would contribute up to £8.3 million towards the cost.

What is planned

The scheme includes new traffic signals and wider carriageways at the M6 junction 5 roundabout, a new signal-controlled junction at Chester Road and Berrandale Road, and improvements to the roundabout at Chester Road and Fort Parkway.

The dual carriageway between the Fort Parkway and Kingsbury Road roundabouts will be widened to three lanes, and there will be improvements to the Kingsbury Road and Tyburn Road roundabouts.

The work is due to be completed in spring 2015.

"Poor access and unreliable journeys"

Baroness Kramer said the road carries heavy traffic, creating poor access, environmental problems and unreliable journey times for buses, freight and cars.

"These improvements will improve the network for road users; improve bus journey times and improve pedestrian and cyclist safety," she said.

"As well as relieving congestion the scheme will also help the city retain existing businesses and encouraging future investment and regeneration in the area."

An important route

The Chester Road is one of the main routes in and out of the north east of the city, linking the M6 with Castle Bromwich, Castle Vale, Erdington and Sutton Coldfield. It serves major employers, including the Jaguar plant at Castle Bromwich and the business parks around Fort Dunlop.

Traffic on the route has grown as new homes and businesses have been built in the area, and queues at the junctions near the M6 are a familiar problem for drivers at peak times.

Better for walkers and cyclists

As well as helping traffic flow, the scheme is designed to improve conditions for people walking and cycling, with new crossings and better routes along the corridor.

Funding

The scheme was one of a number of local transport projects given provisional funding approval in late 2011 as part of the government's spending review. The rest of the money will come from local sources.

Disruption during the work

Drivers are likely to face some disruption while the work is carried out, with lane closures and temporary traffic lights expected at times. The council says it will try to keep delays to a minimum and give advance warning of major closures.

The improvements are part of a wider effort to tackle congestion on the city's busiest routes, as Birmingham's population and economy grow. Better journey times on key roads are seen as important in attracting investment, particularly to areas outside the city centre.