Yes, it an extension of the West Midlands Metro which has no opening date (not even a year), but work on the Birmingham Eastside extension has continued to progress in recent weeks and months away from the area around the HS2 station at Curzon Street. Progress has now been so good in the city centre on Lower Bull Street that the road is set to reopen with buses able to return to a stop on Corporation Street as from Sunday 23rd July.
Work to install tracks on Lower Bull Street – which includes the award winning delta junction which connects to the current line in Bull Street and Corporation Street and will allow trams to travel from both the direction of Edgbaston Village and Wolverhampton onto the extension – has been ongoing since May 2021. But with the rails now down and the final surface having been laid it is now time to open the road up again.
The reopening means that buses heading towards Pheasey, Walsall, Sutton Coldfield and Brownhills West with be able to pick up passengers from a new stop located on Corporation Street from Sunday 23rd July. During the work they had been diverted to temporary stops along High Street and Dale End.
Cllr Liz Clements, Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member of Transport, said: ““I am pleased that this extension has made such headway in recent weeks. The metro is a key part of Birmingham’s sustainable transport offer as we encourage people to leave their cars at home so we can have safer streets, cleaner air and achieve our net zero emissions goal.”
There does remains some finishing works to complete in the area – including paving installation – but work has progressed sufficiently to allow buses back onto the road.
Maria Ion, the Project Director for Midland Metro Alliance, said: “We are all extremely delighted to have reached this key stage of construction along Lower Bull Street. I would like to thank all the businesses, residents and visitors for their patience while the construction was taking place. Although we will still be carrying out some activity in Lower Bull Street and Dale End, our teams will continue to work closely with partners to minimise disruption wherever possible.”
When it eventually opens the Birmingham Eastside extension will run for 1.7km to High Street Deritend. It includes connections to Birmingham Coach Station and Curzon Street HS2 Station. Over half of the route will not have overhead wires installed.