Burnt Tree and Airport / NEC major schemes get approval (06-07-2006)
BURNT TREE ISLAND, SANDWELL & DUDLEY
The existing five arm juntion is a major bottleneck for two key Black Country strategic access routes: Wolverhampton – Birmingham, and Walsall – Dudley – Stourbridge. The junction is at the cross-roads of links to many Black Country employment sites and has to cope with large volumes of HGVs. The geometry of the roundaboput has insufficient capacity for heavy traffic flows, a poor accident record and lacks pedestiran / cycle facilities.
The approval of the Scheme by the Secretary of State, will allow the alteration of the roundabout to a four-arm traffic signal arrangment. This will improve capacity, allow for bus priority, improve journey reliability and provide controlled crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Capacity improvements will alleviate the bottleneck junction at two key strategic access routes A4123 / A461
- Freer flowing traffic will have positive implications for air quality
- Bus Priority measures will improve the reliablility of Bus Showcase Route 87
- Access to and from the M5 will be improved assisting in sustaining regeneration of the Castle Hill area
BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT / NEC
In partnership with BIA and the NEC, this Scheme will improve public transport access with new bus lanes, a public transport hub / interchange, real time information, SMS messaging and infrastructure upgrades on routes serving the area, including the link with Coleshill Multi-Modal Interchange Major Scheme that was provisionally approved in 2003.
- Providing better public transport alternatives for employees, passengers and visitos will reduce the need for car access and reduce congestion on motorway and local road networks
- Reducing congestion will help to improve air quality – motorists will be offered a realistic, environmentally friendly alternative
- Improving bus links to nearby residential areas will improve access to jobs, low floor buses will help people with mobility difficulties
- Encouraging a modal shift will improve road safety as there will be fewer car journeys
- Enabling people to access jobs at BIA / NEC will increase the labour pool available to employers