SILHILLIANS are being called on to have their say on plans to reduce congestion at Solihull’s Coventry Road junction.
Solihull Council has released plans to tackle congestion and enhance walking and cycling provision at the A45 Coventry Road, Damson Parkway and Terminal Road junction.
The junction serves both Birmingham Airport and the nearby Jaguar Land Rover plant and is one of the busiest in the borough.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily impacted travel patterns across the region, planned growth at the UK Central Hub area is likely to exacerbate the existing congestion issues further in the future.
The council says the junction currently has poor facilities for pedestrians and cyclists with an outdated pedestrian footbridge spanning the A45 adjacent to the junction and uncontrolled crossings at the junction itself.
The existing facilities, including the footbridge, do not meet current requirements and could even act as a barrier to people walking and cycling to get to locations across the A45.
The new proposals include additional lanes, road widening and the replacement of the outdated pedestrian footbridge with signal controlled pedestrian and cycling crossings.
The council-led scheme seeks to improve journey times, road safety for all users and air quality.
It also wants to improve access to Jaguar Land Rover – in particular the new Logistics Operation Centre which is under construction – and enable further economic development and support economic recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic.
Councillor Ted Richards, cabinet member for growth and infrastructure delivery, said: “It’s important that we invest in this strategically important route and ensure it is fit to serve future capacity needs.
“The need to improve the congested junction at the A45 Coventry Road / Damson Parkway / Terminal interchange was first identified back in 2015 in the Solihull Connected Transport Strategy.
“The proposed improvements are informed by detailed traffic modelling which has enabled us to design a new junction which both improves the reliability of journey times and provides greater accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.”
Detailed drawings of the scheme are available by visiting the council’s website and completing a survey.
Council officers will also be holding online webinars on March 3 from 6pm until 7pm and March 9 from noon until 1pm where they will be presenting the scheme and answering questions.
Anyone who wishes to write to the council should do so to: A45 / Damson Parkway Consultation, Economy and Infrastructure Directorate, Solihull Council, Council House, Manor Square, Solihull, B91 3QB.
