Christmas road closures, roadworks and rail disruption

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has warned travellers that the roads are expected to be busy over Christmas and New Year with major road works planned.

The local authority, which is part of West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is urging people visiting friends and family and attending football matches to use public transport as much as possible to avoid congestion.

This includes buses, trains and trams and Cycle Hire eBikes - however there are cuts to services over the holiday period, with full details below.

TfWM has highlighted key road closures in the region, roadworks and works on the railways to avoid when you do decide to make a journey.

National Highways has also provided a list which shows that seven closures already in place are expected to carry on this week.

Road Closures

• Full closure of the M42 between J9 and J10 north and southbound from 9pm on Friday 24 December to 9pm on Friday 31 December.

• M6, from 10pm December 17 to 6am December 21, slight delays (under 10 minutes): M6 northbound and southbound, junction 8 to junction 6, lane closures for deflectograph survey works.

• M6, from 9.30pm June 22 2021 to 5.30am March 25 2022, slight delays (under 10 minutes): M6 northbound, junction 6, Lane closures for safety critical inspections.

• M6, from 9pm October 30 2021 to 6am March 26 2022, moderate delays (10-30 minutes): M6 northbound and southbound, junction 6 to A38M into City AC and BC link roads, carriageway closure for installation of 24/7 hard shoulder closure for structure works.

• A38(M), from 9pm November 29 2021 to 6am March 31 2022, moderate delays (10-30 minutes): A38M, junction 6 M6, link road closures with speed restrictions for structural repairs.

• M6, from 9pm September 18 2019 to 6am December 31 2022, slight delays (under 10 minutes): M6, junction 6 BC link road, 24 hour hatched area for bridge repairs.

• A5, from 9pm December 6 2021 to 5.30am September 30 2023, slight delays (under 10 minutes): A5 hints bypass between A453 and A38 junctions eastbound, temporary speed limit for works in relation to HS2.

• A5, from 9pm December 8 2021 to 5.30am September 30 2023, slight delays (under 10 minutes): A5 westbound, hints bypass between the A453 and A38 junctions, (tamworth to lichfield), temporary speed limit and Lane closure with switching for general construction works.

National Highways is responsible for maintaining motorways and major A-roads, so closures of smaller roads will not be included in their schedule.

Roadworks

Roadworks continue on the A34 Perry Barr Highway in Birmingham with lane closures in and around the Perry Barr area

Rail disruption

Works on the railways mean there will be replacement bus services between Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge Parkway on New Year’s Day and between New Street and Bromsgrove/Redditch on Sunday 2 January

Motorists can sign up for live updates via  @wmroads on twitter or sign up for alerts via the TfWM website.

When are West Midlands buses, trains and trams running over Christmas?

Public transport is running across the West Midlands throughout the festive period part from these key dates:

• No public transport running on Christmas Day
• Rail services ending early on Christmas Eve with no trains running on Boxing Day
• Buses running reduced or Sunday services on the key bank holidays.
• West Midlands Metro running a limited service between Wolverhampton and Bull Street

For full details and the latest information go to Transport for West Midlands

What has TfWM said about the reduced public transport?

TfWM interim managing director Anne Shaw said: “Although many of us will be at home, off school or working from home, there are many who are still planning trips out for the festive season and may need to use public transport.

“There are services running every day except Christmas Day but people will need to check for timetable changes and disruption, especially on the bank holidays, before travelling. All that information is in one place at Transport for West Midlands.

“And, unless exempt, remember to wear a face covering for your whole journey.”

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