IF YOU’RE driving home for Christmas this year, Solihull residents are being warned to steer clear of the westbound A45 to prevent being stuck ‘top to toe in tailbacks’.
All three lanes of the westbound A45 in Bickenhill, between the M42 Junction 6 and the Birmingham Airport (Clock) roundabout will be closed from 10pm on Christmas Eve until 5am on Monday, December 27.
One lane on the eastbound A45 will also be closed with a signposted diversion route in place throughout the area.
The disruption has the potential to affect drivers accessing Birmingham Airport, the NEC, Resorts World, as well as visitors to Birmingham City Centre from Coventry and Warwickshire.
The closure will allow for the demolition of the A45 South Bridge as part of the works to improve local transport infrastructure and is the only opportunity when the work can be done.
Solihull Council has already completed construction of the first half of the new A45 South Bridge and westbound A45 traffic has been temporarily diverted on to this new section.
The next phase of the project in the New Year will see the construction of the second half of the bridge.
Upon completion in August 2016 the new bridge will accommodate four lanes of traffic, as well as an access road into an adjacent property – thus reducing congestion in one of the busiest areas of the West Midlands.
More information on the works can be found online at www.solihull.gov.uk/a45bridge.
