The Midland Metro Alliance have confirmed that work is to get underway in Moor Street Queensway this April, work which will pave the way for part of the Birmingham Eastside extension to open earlier than it may have done otherwise.
The Birmingham Eastside extension will travel from the delta junction at Bull Street/Corporation Street to High Street Deritend via Birmingham Coach Station and the HS2 Station at Curzon Street. Whilst good progress has been made on constructing the line the delays in the HS2 project has thrown a spanner into the works. It won’t be possible for the Midland Metro Alliance to start their work around the station until the HS2 contractors have finished and without any intervention elsewhere on the line this would mean a significant delay in the entire tram line opening.
But it was agreed last year that part of the route could open earlier – although that would necessitate additional works to allow trams to terminate short. Enter the work at Moor Street Queensway. This will eventually see a temporary tramstop installed outside of the Clayton Hotel, once these works are completed.
This comes after good progress in recent months with main construction activity in Lower Bull Street and Digbeth High Street now completed.
Anne Shaw, Executive Director for TfWM, said: “Announcing the next phase of the Birmingham Eastside Metro extension on Moor Street Queensway marks a pivotal step in the city’s wider regeneration. This project will both revitalise the eastside and provide an alternative sustainable transport option, with a temporary stop outside the Clayton Hotel. This early access will seamlessly connect passengers to the existing tram, train, and bus network at Moor Street Station, paving the way for a better-connected city.”
Construction activity will start on Sunday 7th April and will mean that some buses serving Birmingham City Centre will be relocated to different stops until the completion of works in autumn.
Maria Ion, Project Director at the Midland Metro Alliance, said: “Our teams will be doing all we can to keep disruption to a minimum while these works are underway. There will be some unavoidable changes to bus stop locations, however, Moor Street Queensway will remain open, with one lane of traffic in each direction, at all times. This is a key stage in the project and it’s important to remember the contribution this new route will make to improving the public transport system within the West Midlands.”
I cannot see how the work on Lower Bull Street can be classed as good progress. I don’t know what the current state of this street is but it was closed in June 2021.