£1m roadworks programme begins to improve access to Birmingham Airport

A THREE-MONTH programme of road works to widen the A45 (Coventry Road) westbound carriageway into Birmingham Airport begins today (Tuesday).

The works, costing approximately £1m, have been commissioned and funded by the airport with the aim of improving traffic flow in and out of the hub, as well as ease congestion for passengers and other users of the facility.

Bob Graham, the airport’s Operations Director, said: “This section of road is a vital access point to the airport from the M42 and A45 so we’re making this investment now to provide the infrastructure to support our expected growth in the coming years.”

The widening works are being carried out ahead of Solihull Borough Council’s reconstruction of the A45 South Bridge, which will start in early 2015. The Government announced last week it was allocated £8m to enable the work on the bridge to go ahead.

The project is intended to be the first step to improving key strategic transport links which will bring significant economic benefits to the borough.

From tonight, the exit slip road from the roundabout at junction 6 of the M42 onto the A45 westbound carriageway will be closed and will remain so for the duration of the scheme, which is scheduled to end on November 21. The slip road closure is to ensure driver and construction worker safety.

The free flow link between the M42 northbound carriageway and A45 westbound will remain open, and the airport said vehicles using this link would be unaffected by the works.

Vehicles wishing to join the A45 westbound carriageway towards the airport from the M42 J6 roundabout will be diverted onto the A45 eastbound carriageway, where they can then access the westbound carriageway at the ‘Stonebridge’ roundabout.

Installation of traffic management measures will start at 8pm with a five-hour closure of the free flow link from the M42 northbound carriageway onto the A45 westbound carriageway from 10pm. The entry slip road into the airport from the A45 westbound will be closed for four hours from 11pm. During this short period, traffic will be diverted into the airport via ‘Stonebridge’ roundabout, the A452 and B4438.

The contract for the work has been awarded to North Midland Construction.

Road signage is now in place and further information, including diversion maps, can be viewed via the airport’s website at http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/transport-and-directions/by-car.aspx