Birmingham city centre pinch point set for removal as part of £8m improvement scheme

A MAJOR junction on Birmingham’s inner city ring road is to be completely redesigned as part of an £8.1m scheme attempting to improve the appeal of the area to developers.

The city council is going to do away with the roundabout at Ashted Circus and replace it with a cross roads controlled by traffic lights.

The area around the junction is the focus of considerable attention due to the impending development of the HS2 high speed rail line and the accompanying Curzon Eastside regeneration scheme.

In order to maximise the full potential of the HS2 scheme, the council wants to make access to development sites in the area as easy as possible.

The current island is a major pinch point on the ring road and is heavily congested at peak periods.

This has been evidenced in recent years because of the increase in student accommodation built in the area to serve the expansion of Birmingham City University and the redevelopment of the area generated by Millennium Point.

The council deems the work on the junction vital to supporting the city’s growth potential by reducing congestion, increasing highway capacity and improving access to key development sites.

It is entering into a funding agreement to accept almost £2m of Enterprise Zone funding from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and will secure a further £5.545m from the Local Growth Fund, which is also administered through the LEP.

The council said the proposal contributed to a strong economy through investment in transport infrastructure that supports new development.

The ring road plays a vital role in providing access to the city centre, and the council said the improvements were required to reduce congestion and accommodate key developments proposed as part of the city centre Enterprise Zone.

Improvements on the ring road at Holloway Circus, Curzon Circus, Bordesley Circus and Haden Circus have all been identified as vital to supporting economic growth.

The Ashted Circus work in brief comprises:
•    Converting the roundabout to a signalised cross road junction and filling the central island of the roundabout, the removal of pedestrian subways and approach ramps;
•    Providing a suitable footway, signal controlled toucan crossings and right-turn only lanes on all the four arms of the junction;
•    The bus lanes on the Jennens Road and Nechells Parkway approaches to the junction will be modified to suit the new junction layout. The new traffic signals will be designed and optimised to improve bus journey times through the junction;
•    The provision of cycle lanes on B4114 Jennens Road (inbound and outbound) and on A47 Nechells Parkway (inbound);
•    Unsegregated shared use footpaths and cycle lanes to connect to the existing cycle routes, including an unsegregated shared use footpath/cycle lane on the A47 Nechells Parkway outbound;
•    Providing double yellow lines at Windsor Street South/ Nechells Parkway Junction;
•    Removal of non-pay parking bay on A47 Nechells Parkway;
•    Removal of approximately 100 trees from areas around the junction;
•    Planting of 200 trees in the new verge and other areas in the locality, together with other landscaping.

Residents and businesses in the area have been warned the work is likely to cause severe disruption.

The project is scheduled for completion in July 2018.