Government pledges £8m to facilitate Solihull bridge project
WORK on a major piece of infrastructure close to Birmingham Airport is set for the go ahead after the government approved the allocation of £8m towards the cost of the scheme.
Building work on the new A45 South Bridge in Solihull will improve a transport link that carries 50,000 vehicles a day.
The new bridge will replace the existing 150 year old structure carrying the westbound carriageway of the A45 over the West Coast Main Line. It will create an extra westbound running lane and an improved access slip road to Birmingham Airport. A temporary bridge will be created during the work, allowing the route to remain open throughout.
The main works are due to start in January 2015 with completion in August 2016. The Department will provide up to £8.3m towards the full project cost of £12m.
In addition to the airport, the structure will also improve access to the National Exhibition Centre and Jaguar Land Rover’s production plant.
Businesses benefiting from the new bridge generate more than £2.5bn a year to the local economy, and in the process support over 80,000 jobs.
Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: “The A45 serves important sites including Birmingham Airport, the NEC, and employers such as Jaguar Land Rover. This new bridge will reduce congestion and improve safety, and include new pedestrian and cyclist facilities.
“The £8.3m the Government is putting into this project is part of our wider economic plan of investment in our local and national infrastructure to help drive economic growth.”
