The latest milestone on the West Midlands Metro extension to Dudley (and maybe Brierley Hill) was reached on Monday 23rd January with the reopening of Castle Hill in Dudley Town Centre after the completion of main works in this area. This has seen double track laid in readiness for services to begin in 2024.
The Midland Metro Alliance have been carrying out work on Castle Hill since early 2019. They started off with upgrade and diversion of utility diversions with this stage being completed in summer 2019. Work resumed in spring 2020 to construct the trackbed, lay tram tracks and improve the street scene with a refreshed look and feel.
Cllr David Stanley, Dudley Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise, said: “The Metro will have a massive positive impact on Dudley and it’s fantastic that the works here are almost finished with those using the area being able to use the road in both directions again during day-time hours from Monday and at any time of the day or night in just a few weeks.”
Whilst the road will be reopened during the day there will be temporary overnight lane restrictions for inbound traffic for around two weeks to allow the construction of new street furniture. The restrictions will be in place by 1945 each evening until approximately 0600 the following day. Its expected the work will be completed by Friday 10th February 2023.
Tom Maplethorpe, Project Director at Midland Metro Alliance, said: “It’s great that most of our activity on Castle Hill is completed and, for the majority of road users, our impact on travelling through the area will be minimised from next week. We thank locals for their patience and understanding during the period which we’ve been working in Dudley town centre.”
Work on the extension will continue with further traffic changes due to be implemented to the bus lane on Kings Street and a section of Birmingham Street, between Hall Street and Fisher Street, which will close in line with the completed design of the Metro scheme from Monday 13th February. Work will include the removal of traffic islands, the upgrade and diversion of utilities and installation of new kerb lines. Track installation will follow later this year.
The Wednesbury to Dudley section of the Brierley Hill extension is due to open in 2024. The remaining stretch from Dudley to Brierley Hill is currently in limbo due to a funding shortfall.