Three bridges to be built over major route
HS2 is planning to build three bridges over the busy A45 Coventry Road in Solihull.
The bridges would pass over the HS2 railway line in the Bickenhill area, to the southeast of Birmingham International Train Station and to the northeast of the National Motorcycle Museum.
The high-speed rail company has outlined the A45 Coventry Road, the A45 Service Road and East Way as the proposed sites for the bridges.
Work would also need to take place in realigning the roads in the approach to the bridges. The busy Junction 6 of the M42 is located 1km east of the proposed area.
An ecological assessment has been carried out by HS2, which says that bat roosts have been identified ‘around but not within’ the outlined work site.
In its planning application, the company says that trees within the site have ‘low roost potential’ and are not currently being used as bat roosts.
HS2 said: “With regards to the trees which have been identified as having a low potential for bat roosts, if these trees require felling, they shall be soft-felled under ecological supervision and the resulting arisings left until the following day before being removed from the site. Additional woods will be planted during construction of the assets,” HS2 continued, “and will serve to increase the availability of habitat for the noted protected species).
“Provision of the new woodland planting around the overbridges will restore connectivity with the wider landscape.”
A landscape survey has also been conducted by HS2. It said: “Native woodland habitat using native broadleaved woodland species will be planted on both sides of the A45 overbridges.”
HS2 is waiting on a handful of planning applications to be decided on, which Solihull Council said were ‘under consideration’.
A Solihull Council spokesperson said: “The Council has received an application from HS2 for the construction of three overbridges that will carry the A45 Coventry Road, A45 Service Road and East Way over the railway and supporting works. The application is now subject to a thorough assessment by Council planning officers.”