In pictures: Birmingham commuters experience A38 tunnel closures
- Published
As commuters arrived in Birmingham, the reality of the new Monday morning rush-hour in the city centre hit home. The St Chad's and Queensway tunnels shut for six weeks on Friday night leaving drivers to use alternative routes. Essential repairs are being carried out on the 40-year-old constructions.
Traffic soon started to build up on the A38 coming into Birmingham, captured in a photo taken from Aston University. Monday was the first full working day the diversions, set up the city council and Amey its road maintenance contractor, were put to the test.
BBC Midlands Today business and transport correspondent, Peter Plisner, who was given access inside the tunnels on Monday, said there were about 200 contractors on site. As part of the repairs, nearly 1,000 new lights will be installed and fire protection added to the walls and ceilings.
The city council's Urban Traffic Control Centre was monitoring the situation on Monday. Motorists gave BBC News mixed reports, with some drivers caught up in congestion, while others reported they encountered no delays.
Police were on hand to advise drivers on Broad Street, another main route through the city centre. The inbound part of the road between Paradise Circus and the Hyatt Hotel is shut to cars over the six weeks, although buses and taxis would still be allowed through, a council spokeswoman said.
Traffic seemed to be coping on Lancaster Circus on Monday morning.
Birmingham's New Street Station also seemed to be operating as normal despite the road closures. Earlier, a points problem at Aston meant there were no trains between the station and Walsall.
Rush-hour traffic diverted along Holliday Street seemed to be flowing well on Monday evening
An almost-empty Broad Street at 17:00 BST still saw police on hand to offer directions to motorists.
- Published22 July 2013
- Published22 July 2013
- Published19 July 2013