When the lockdown restrictions were first introduced in England, work on the West Midlands Metro Birmingham Westside extension (phase two to Hagley Road, Edgbaston) was briefly suspended before getting underway again after a couple of weeks with full social distancing advice being put into practice. In this pictorial update we take a look at the state of play on 17th June 2020 with thanks to Dan Noon for the images.
The full Birmingham Westside extension is due to open by 2021 and will see a further extension of the line from the stop at Library to Hagley Road in Edgbaston. Approximately 1.35km in length there will be two intermediate stops at Brindleyplace and Five Ways. Probably the most noticeable piece of infrastructure will be the Fiveways underpass.
On Broad Street, outside the Cineworld cinema (do you remember those, its where you used to be able to go to watch the latest blockbuster release!), and good progress seems to be being made with the initial track laying as seen here.
Again on Broad Street and this section is at a different stage of construction with the alignment of the double track clearly seen.
Another view on Broad Street with more track in place but awaiting final fixing.
Where Broad Street is usually a bustling area of Birmingham’s social offering with entertainment, bars and clubs under the current restrictions it is a very different place which does at least mean the construction works won’t cause as much disruption for businesses as it may have done. More rails are seen here.
A closer view of some of the track on Broad Street.
This final view shows another of the sections on Broad Street which is at an earlier stage of construction with the surface being prepared for the eventual laying of tracks. (All Photographs by Dan Noon, 17th June 2020)