Travel Alert: Road closures remain in place following wartime bomb discovery

Commuters heading into Birmingham have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys this morning as road closures and train cancellations remain in place following the discovery of a large wartime bomb in Aston.

All exit slip roads at Junction 6 of the M6 (Spaghetti Junction) remain closed, as is the A38(M) Aston Expressway in both directions between the A4540 (Dartmouth Circus) and the M6.

Therefore, there is no access to the M6 at Junction 6 if heading out of Birmingham. The slip roads to the M6 north and southbound from the Salford Circus roundabout (which serves the A38 Tyburn Road, the A5127 south and Slade Road) are open. However, there are a number of local road closures in the nearby area due to the incident.

Highways England has said the road closures are likely to remain in place until at least this afternoon.

“Road users intending on travelling in the area are strongly urged to plan ahead and use alternative routes and should allow additional time for their journey,” it said.

London Midland rail services through Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley have been cancelled and disruption is expected until the end of the day.

There will be an hourly shuttle service between Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield City

Services between Birmingham New Street and Hamstead are also subject to cancellation or alteration.

Services are unable to call at the following stations:

Cross City North line: Duddeston, Aston, Gravelly Hill, Erdington, Chester Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks, Butlers Lane, Blake Street, Shenstone, Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley.

Chase Line: Duddeston, Aston, Witton, Perry Barr.

Bus replacement services have been arranged to call at all stations between Lichfield Trent Valley and Sutton Coldfield in both directions. Full size coaches are being operated by Eminence Travel and Amans Travel.

Tickets are being accepted on National Express West Midlands buses, while London Midland has also agreed ticket sharing with CrossCountry Trains between Birmingham New Street and Tamworth/Nuneaton.

The problems began at 9.45am yesterday when workman at a construction site in Priory Road, Aston unearthed the wartime device.

A 500-metre perimeter was set up and the area cordoned off, with homes and businesses in the area evacuated.

A specialist bomb disposal team was called in to make the device safe and to make sure there were no further devices in the area.

Birmingham Police Commander Chris Johnson, said: “An initial assessment from Army bomb disposal suggests this is a large explosive device − that’s why an extensive cordon has been put in place for public safety.

“There is the possibility we may have to extend the cordon on advice from experts…we don’t take decisions like this lightly but public safety has to be our number one priority.

“Hundreds of homes have been evacuated and we are working with our partners to provide emergency accommodation.”

He said there had been some difficulties in accessing the device given the terrain and its position within the construction site. However, all the various agencies involved in the incident were working as quickly as possible to bring the situation to a safe conclusion.

“I recognise the impact on people’s lives that incidents like this cause, and I would like to thank the public for their understanding and support at this time,”  he added.