No closure to Aston Expressway during £93m work
There will be no closures to the Aston Expressway during five years of repair works to improve the strength of the Tame Valley Viaduct, it has been confirmed.
Birmingham City Council’s cabinet approved the £93 million scheme on Tuesday, with the works set to start in February 2021 and last until November 2025.
Transport and environment chief Councillor Waseem Zaffar stated there would be occasional closures to roads beneath the 2,034ft long structure but not the A38 Expressway itself.
He said: “We will work very closely with the members and communities affected to make sure the impact is absolutely minimal.”
But Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jon Hunt called for greater clarity around any potential diversions.
He also suggested a northern relief road be investigated in light of the fact there is also set to be two years worth of works to the A34, including the demolition of the Birchfield flyover which is has campaigned against.
Councillor Hunt said: “Given the level of works being proposed to the north of the city centre over the next two years we are going to need some sort of serious relief.
“I do wonder whether the A34 project is doable at the same time as the Aston Expressway project over the next two years.”
He added: “I think in the planning of these things it’s not good enough for the council to keep crossing its fingers and hoping for the best, we have got too much gridlock.
“The city’s economy functions by means of working road networks.
“I don’t see us taking seriously the future planning of threats to the road network.”
In response Councillor Zaffar said: “The impact of the work taking place on the A38 Expressway will have a minimal impact elsewhere.
“I’m very confident that we’ll deliver, consultation pending, deliver the A34 programme in time for the big event that’s taking place in 2022 (Commonwealth Games), probably in advance of that actually and it will leave a massive legacy improving the way people move about through the north of this city.”
He confirmed the Tame Valley Viaduct was currently safe with ‘no immediate signs of structural distress’.
However a council report warns unless strengthening works are carried out width or weight restrictions may have to be imposed or the route may even have to be closed in the future.
The Department for Transport is contributing £72m towards the works.
