Included in this update:

• Summer travel
• School’s out; slower is safer
• Dartmouth Circus works package
• A38 cycle route construction
• Clean Air Zone consultation
• Snow Hill/Colmore Row area improvements consultation
• South Birmingham bus changes
• HS2 enabling works
• Save the date

Summer travel

Birmingham is a busy place this summer, please 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. You can also visit our web pages to find out more about current and future road works. Previous Birmingham Connected updates can also be viewed.

This Friday and over the weekend many people are likely to be travelling for the start of their summer holidays. Please note that as well as major works around Birmingham city centre, Highways England continues with a major scheme to improve a 3km section of the M5 at Oldbury Viaduct between junction 1 and 2. You are advised to plan ahead and leave extra time for your journey.

School’s out; slower is safer

With schools breaking up for summer, please remember to slow down in built up areas and wherever children may be playing. If you want to do more to make Birmingham’s roads safer, take a look at the new FREE 20mph toolkits available for schools, employers, communities and residents. Take action! Together we can make a difference.

Dartmouth Circus works package

Major works around Dartmouth Circus will continue until the end of August. Work is being carried out 24 hours a day, with phased lane closures in place and overnight full closure of the A38(M) Dartmouth Circus underpass from 8:30pm to 6am.

As a result of the various works, daytime traffic in the area is heavier than usual, particularly around Ashted Circus, so please try to switch to public transport, cycling or walking or choose an alternative route. Find out more about the Dartmouth Circus works package.

A38 cycle route construction

As part of Birmingham Cycle Revolution (BCR), construction of the A38 segregated cycle route continues. Waterproofing work is also being carried around Belgrave Middleway. In addition to the current lane restrictions along Bristol Road, the following traffic management will be required:

• Selly Oak New Road to Edgbaston Park Road - from Monday 23 July, for 4 weeks, there will be an overnight (7pm-6am) closure of one lane. During the daytime work will continue with narrow lanes so that two lanes can remain open.
• Belgrave Middleway – from Monday 23 July, for 4 weeks, the right turn onto A38 Bristol Street will be reduced to two operational lanes. Lane restrictions will also be in place on the approach to Pershore Road junction.
• Wellington Road and Bellevue Road – from Monday 30 July access from Bristol Road (A38) will be closed and a diversion in place for 5 days.

More information about the A38 BCR cycle route can be found on our web pages.

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. We want to hear your views, please go to www.birmingham.gov.uk/caz to have your say. This consultation closes on 17 August 2018.

You can also visit drop in events taking place around the city. Next week sessions are being held at Handsworth Wellbeing Centre, on Tuesday 24 July from 4pm to 8pm; at Heartlands Hospital Education Centre, on Thursday 26 July from 4pm to 8pm; and at All Saints Community Centre Kings Heath, on Saturday 28 July from 12pm to 4pm.

Snow Hill/Colmore Row area improvements consultation

In partnership with Colmore Business District we are consulting on a programme of improvements for the Snow Hill, Colmore Row, Livery Street and Cornwall Street areas of the city. You can share your views online until 30 July 2018.

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.

HS2 enabling works

Overnight lane closures are currently in place on Lawley Middleway to allow ground surveys to be carried out. These works are expected to continue until the end of October (Mon-Fri 8pm-6am). Some work will also be required on Sunday daytimes. Further information and a map showing the affected area are available on HS2's Birmingham website.

High Speed Two (HS2) will host a drop-in information session in Washwood Heath to provide the local community with updates about Phase One of the project.

Tuesday 24 July 2018, from 3–6pm, at Dolphin Women’s Centre, Ward End Park, Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, B8 2HB. For more information email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Save the date and start planning!

• 15 August - Cycle to Work Day
• 22 September – World Car Free Day
• October – International Walk to School Month

This article was posted on 20 July 2018