A34 Perry Barr Highway scheme: deadline for completion extended

Birmingham City Council has announced a new schedule for when the A34 Perry Barr Highway will be completed
Improvement works in Perry Barr underwayImprovement works in Perry Barr underway
Improvement works in Perry Barr underway

The A34 improvement scheme was due to finish at the end of 2021.

But this morning (Wednesday, December 15), Birmingham City Council has issued a new timetable for when the work is due to be completed.

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Motorists and residents have been dealing with road works on the site for 18 months.

The council issued reassurance that “the bulk of the work is now complete in spite of pressures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic”.

They have also stressed that the A34 Perry Barr improvement scheme is bigger than initially planned - now including the Perry Barr Bus Interchange as well as the new bus lane and public realm works on Aldridge Road.

In light of this and other factors, the council has announced that the full A34 improvement works in Perry Barr will be completed in phases across Spring 2022 - in time for the Commonwealth Games.

The A34 Perry Barr Flyover before demolition workThe A34 Perry Barr Flyover before demolition work
The A34 Perry Barr Flyover before demolition work

Here is the statement from Cllr Waseem Zaffar, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council

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“The A34 Highway Improvements scheme at Perry Barr has been on site for 18 months and the bulk of the work is now complete in spite of pressures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme has successfully overcome a range of hurdles, and reached some significant milestones, completing the dismantling of the flyover and laying over 3,800m2 of new block paving.

“As with all construction projects, there have been a few extra challenges that have had to be addressed along the way, all of which have required additional time to resolve.

“One of the main ones has been the complex engineering required for the construction of the new bridge in the middle of what is currently Birchfield Island. This encountered some unexpected construction issues that had to be overcome and required additional time.

“Overall, the scheme that is being delivered is also significantly bigger than at the outset. It now includes the Perry Barr Bus Interchange, which is being constructed by Birmingham City Council on behalf of Transport for West Midlands, as well as the new bus lane and public realm works on Aldridge Road.

CGI of plans for Perry Barr RegenerationCGI of plans for Perry Barr Regeneration
CGI of plans for Perry Barr Regeneration
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“Combining these projects into the wider A34 Highways Improvement Scheme has a number of benefits. This includes reducing the number of construction interfaces and dependencies between the various projects in the area, enabling better traffic management and improving certainty of delivery for the scheme as a whole.

“As a result of all these factors, the new larger A34 scheme will now complete on a phased basis across spring 2022, in time for the area’s summer festivities.

“Birmingham City Council is working closely with its A34 Improvement Scheme contractor, Tarmac, to explore options for bringing forward milestone dates wherever possible.

“We will continue to provide updates on this scheme as construction progresses.”

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