Drivers warned as lanes shut for city roadworks
DRIVERS face the threat of further congestion with the closure of a lane on a key route through the city centre.
One lane at Holloway Circus, which is a strategic gateway to New Street Station, will shut 24 hours a day for major road improvements.
The move also coincides with the closure of a lane on Paradise Circus Queensway southbound from Sandpits to Suffolk Street Queensway until next summer.
With the opening of the German Market on Thursday and a build-up in Christmas shopping, motorists have been warned to allow extra time and to try to use public transport where possible.
The city council is recommending motorists trying to access the city centre from Five Ways, should now avoid both Broad Street and Bath Row. They should instead drive down Islington Row Middleway/Lee Bank Middleway and approach Hol- loway Circus from the south via Bristol Street.
Long-awaited improvements at Holloway Head will see a left turn only lane from Holloway Head into Suffolk Street Queensway.
Workmen are also installing addi- tional traffic signals, upgrading two existing pedestrian crossing points to Toucan (for pedestrians and cycles) and improvements to street lighting.
CCTV equipment will be relocated to the central island with the instal- lation of additional subway CCTV.
Buses which usually travel along Bath Row and Holloway Head (services 80, 80A, 98 and X64) will be diverted via Broad Street when travelling into the city centre.
A city council spokesman said: “The works are currently on target to be completed on time in spring 2018, but we anticipate the 24-hour restrictions will be lifted before Christmas.”
A new walkway called Centenary Way has now opened to link Chamberlain Square with Centenary Square for the first time since Paradise Forum was closed two years ago to facilitate the demolition of the old Central Library.
Fletchers Walk is now closed between Easy Row and Paradise Street to enable demolition work to start on the former Birmingham Conservatoire and Chamberlain House. As part of this scheme, one lane of Paradise Circus Queensway has also been closed. This means motorists coming from the Jewellery Quarter direction towards Pagoda Island are likely to face delays.