Traffic Alert: Airport warns drivers of delays due to ongoing bridge replacement works

DRIVERS heading to Birmingham Airport have been warned about a series of roadworks over the next few weeks which could delay their journeys.

The roadworks are connected to the long-term project to replace the existing three lane road-over-rail bridge on the A45 (Coventry Road) in Bickenhill.

The overnight lane closures on the A45 will apply between 8pm on Wednesday to 6am on Thursday, and also between 8pm on Thursday and 6am on Friday.

During the Bank Holiday weekend, lane closures will apply between 10pm on Saturday May 28 to 8am on Sunday May 29. These will be restricted to the closure of lane one on the westbound A45 and closure of the westbound M42 Junction 6 link road to the A45 westbound.

Similar closures will apply during the following weekend, when there will be a partial closure of the westbound A45 and the full closure of the westbound M42 junction 6 link road to the A45 westbound.

Drivers have been advised to leave more time for their journey to the airport.
Until August 2016 all traffic westbound on the A45 is restricted to 30mph as it travels over the newly constructed part of the bridge.
 
Recent analysis of traffic speeds has revealed that the average speed of drivers through the roadworks has been much higher, as a result, the westbound carriageway has been reduced to just two lanes over the bridge and one lane on the approach to the bridge on the A45 westbound.

The new bridge will be double the width of the existing bridge to accommodate four lanes of traffic plus an access from Church Lane to land at Wyckhams Close.

Carillion Construction is delivering the design and build contract for the reconstruction and widening of the bridge.

The old bridge, which dates back to around 1837, is used by around 30,000 vehicles a day and serves as an important transport link to the many businesses in and around the area, including the NEC, Jaguar Land Rover and Birmingham Airport.

It was therefore completely unsuitable to modern traffic requirements.

The project, which began last year, is on schedule to complete this autumn.

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