Work under way on new A38 cycle route
Work is now under way on a new high-quality cycle route linking Selly Oak and the University of Birmingham with the city centre, via the A38.
The new 4km cycleway is being delivered as part of Birmingham Cycle Revolution, a £57 million city-wide project focused on making cycling an everyday way to travel in Birmingham, helping the city become healthier, greener and safer.
The new two-way, fully segregated route will include a dedicated track in the central reservation on Bristol Road, and major improvements to the junctions at Belgrave Middleway and Priory Road that will benefit both pedestrians and cyclists.
To reduce the impact to traffic and nearby residents and businesses, the project will be delivered in a series of phases, and measures will be put in place to reduce disruption. This will include intelligent and flexible working on carriageways space, based on peak traffic flow data, and implementing the very latest traffic management and temporary signalling technology.
The route is expected to fully connect existing cycle facilities on Hurst Street and on Selly Oak New Road by late autumn 2018.
Councillor Stewart Stacey, Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Roads, said: “We first announced plans for the city’s first fully segregated, two-way cycle routes last year, having listened carefully to feedback from cyclists about the work we had done so far on Birmingham Cycle Revolution.
“They told us that rather than focusing on schemes which rely primarily on painted lines and signage, we should now concentrate on higher quality routes which will enable cyclists to use our roads while completely segregated from other traffic, creating a safer and also more enjoyable cycling experience.
“I know some cyclists have been impatient to see the routes built, but this is work which must be planned and constructed properly to ensure that the routes are as safe as possible for those who use them. Therefore we have spent time carrying out a full public consultation and undertaking careful planning to make sure we get it right before starting work. That is why I am absolutely delighted to see work begin on the second of these exciting schemes.”
Mark Adams, New Business Manager for Amey in Birmingham, said: “We are excited to be delivering this fantastic project that will encourage people in Birmingham to make more journeys by bike. Some phases of the project, particularly at large junctions, will be challenging. We will do all we can to keep traffic disruption to a minimum, including utilising innovative methods of working. I’d like to appeal to motorists to be patient and leave extra time for journeys in the area while our teams work to provide this safer, greener and ultimately more sustainable travel option for our city.”
