Included in this update:

• Summer travel
• Dartmouth Circus works package
• Ashted Circus improvements
• Clean Air Zone (CAZ) consultation
• South Birmingham bus changes
• Colmore food festival

Summer travel

Birmingham is a busy place this summer. Major works will be taking place in the city centre and on the region’s road network, with some disruption unavoidable. Birmingham City Council and partners are working hard to keep the city moving, but with so much going on, it makes sense to plan ahead and think about how you travel. Our advice is

• Leave the car at home and travel by bus, train, tram, bike, or on foot
• Car-share with family, friends, or colleagues
• Beat the traffic by travelling at quieter times
• Avoid travelling by working from home

For more information about travel in Birmingham this summer visit: www.birmingham.gov.uk/summertravel

Previous Birmingham Connected updates can also be viewed.

Dartmouth Circus work package

Major works around Dartmouth Circus began this week and will continue for 8 weeks. Traffic management, including reduced lanes, are in operation around Dartmouth Circus (24 hours, 7 days a week). Overnight (9pm to 6am) closure of the Aston Expressway Underpass will be installed on Sunday 8 July. Alternative routes and diversions will be in place but expect long delays in the area, and please consider leaving the car at home or taking alternative routes whenever possible to help reduce congestion.

Find out more about the Dartmouth Circus works package.

Ashted Circus improvements

Work is ongoing at Ashted Circus, which is now operating as a signalised junction. Night time lane closures on all approaches and exits continue (8pm to 6am Mondays to Fridays). There are also off-peak (9:30am to 3:30pm) day time lane closures on Nechells Parkway and Jennens Road. Pelican crossings are in place for pedestrians. Full time one way closures to traffic on Forster Street and Heneage Street also remain in place.

Find out more about the Ashted Circus works.

Clean Air Zone consultation

Air pollution is linked to nearly 900 deaths in Birmingham every year. We are proposing a Clean Air Zone which means the most polluting vehicles must pay to enter the city centre. Consultation on our plans for a Clean Air Zone for Birmingham was launched on Wednesday 4 July and runs to Friday 17 August. Please go to www.birmingham.gov.uk/caz to find out more and have your say.

A series of public drop-in sessions will be held as part of the consultation. The first of these takes place on Monday 9 July, 3pm to 6:30pm at Acocks Green Library.

South Birmingham bus changes

From Sunday 22 July National Express West Midlands is making some changes to bus services in and around south and south-west Birmingham. These include timetable changes so buses run more reliably, and some route changes. New express buses will mean more direct routes to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the University of Birmingham.

Catch the Bus Week runs up until 8 July, so there’s still time to enter the Network West Midlands selfie competition giving you the chance to win a 4 week travel ticket.

Visit Network West Midlands to find out about offers on public transport throughout the summer or to plan your journey by bus, train or Metro.

Colmore Food Festival

This annual festival at the heart of the city is an integral part of the city’s cultural and culinary calendars. Taking place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 July, the Colmore Food Festival is free to attend and allows the hospitality venues of the District to showcase their dishes and talents, alongside entertainment galore.

Save the date and start planning!

Getting involved with these events is a great way to encourage your workplace or organisation to promote active and sustainable travel:

• 15 August – Cycle to Work Day
• October – International Walk to School Month

This article was posted on 6 July 2018