Businesses bracing themselves as tunnel closures commence

BUSINESS owners and managers are preparing for six weeks of disruption as the Birmingham city centre road tunnels close tonight for repairs and maintenance work.

The St Chad’s and Queensway tunnels, on the A38 between St Chad’s Cathedral and The Mailbox, will shut at10pm and won’t re-open until September 2.

Steve Brittan, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce’s president, has warned the closures will cause “chaos” in the city centre.

The tunnels, which are due to reopen on 2 September, will also shut for six weeks for more work next year.

Amey, which is carrying out the work on behalf of Birmingham City Council, said it looked at various options of how to carry out the work and that shutting the tunnels completely for six weeks was the cheapest.

And it has deliberately picked the time of year – during the school summer holidays – when traffic is at its lightest.

Business commuters who normally use the tunnels when driving into work are being advised to find alternative routes, use park and ride schemes at Perry Barr and Birmingham International station or to use public transport.

Three “bike trains” are also being set up to allow people to cycle in large groups into the city.