NEWS: Overnight closures mark start of works

The A38 tunnels through Birmingham city centre will be closed from 10pm until 6am every night for the next two weeks from tonight (Friday 4th July) as the second phase of essential refurbishment work gets underway.

The overnight closures precede the main block of works which will see the St Chad’s and Queensway tunnels completely closed to all traffic from 10pm on Friday 18 July until 6am on Monday 1 September. 

Motorists who commute into the city centre are being urged to leave their cars at home during the summer closures and use public transport or another sustainable travel option.

Over 200,000 additional journeys were made by public transport during a similar set of closures in 2013, but current figures from a survey being carried out by Birmingham City Councils highways partner Amey suggest the numbers heeding the advice may be much lower this year.

Less than half of those surveyed so far who made the switch last year have said they will do the same again and get out of their cars this summer. 

Councillor Tahir Ali, Cabinet Member for Development, Transport and the Economy, is urging people to plan ahead. He said: “There is a lot of advice out there and plenty of alternative options for people travelling into the city over the summer. By using public transport or planning alternative routes in advance, people can continue to enjoy everything the city has to offer without the risk of traffic disruption.”

The second phase of the works will complete the upgrade to the tunnels by renewing the ventilation system, installing new security and communications systems, replacing electrical systems and refurbishing pumping stations and plant rooms.