CONSTRUCTION works to expand the new bus priority routes along the A34 and A45 are set to get under way later this year.
The second phase of the cross-city Sprint rapid bus route linking Solihull with Birmingham and Walsall will see the route upgraded ready for the introduction of articulated zero-emission buses on a continuous route.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is overseeing the project, said later in the spring residents and businesses will be updated with new designs for bus lanes and junction upgrades along the Sprint route.
And nine new state-of-the-art shelters are also set to be installed along the route.
TfWM say work on phase two will begin with an upgrade of the Trinity Road and Newtown Middleway junction on the A34 and an extension of the westbound bus lane on the A45 in Birmingham.
A consultation is open until March 24 for residents and businesses to have their say on these plans.
Sprint’s second phase is being funded through an £88million contribution from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and developed by TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The first phase, which saw bus lanes, priority junction upgrades and new state-of-the art shelters installed along the route was completed in time to ferry spectators to and from key venues during last summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
TfWM analysis of bus travel data showed that journey times had improved by up to 22 per cent compared to 2019 figures following the completion of phase one.
Sandeep Shingadia, director of strategic partnerships and delivery integration at TfWM, said: “Research shows that more people would get the bus if the services were reliable and frequent – which is why we have designed the Sprint cross-city bus route.
“When complete this will create a single non-stop bus route linking Walsall and Solihull town centres via Birmingham and thanks to the dedicated lanes and priority at junctions passengers will know their bus will get them to their destination on time.”
To find out more about the latest works and comment visit Birmingham City Council’s Be Heard website.
