Great Barr road shut by repairs to bridge

A raft of overnight road closures affecting traffic getting on and off the M6 will be in place as seven weeks of works costing £150,000 are carried out on a bridge in Great Barr.

The vital work is being carried out on the bridge, which is situated near Junction 7 of the M6 and runs over the A34 Walsall Road.

The work includes structural repairs, a new protective coating and new lighting.

The footbridge currently provides the only safe crossing across the main road and urgently needs repairs. Work is being carried out by Sandwell Council's contractor Barhale Construction Plc.

The work will be completed outside of peak traffic times. Road closures on the A34 Birmingham Road — which will partially limit access to and from the M6 at Junction 7 overnight — will be in force from midnight to 6am between February 14 to 18 and March 7 to 11.

During the works from February 14 to 18 northbound traffic on the A34 Birmingham Road will not be able to join the M6 at Junction 7.

Drivers who want to access the M6 will be diverted via Birmingham Road, Sargents Hill, Birmingham Road, Broadway, Broadway West, Wallows Lane and Bescott Road. Access to the M6 will be via Junction 9.

During the second closure from March 7 to 11, the southbound A34 Birmingham Road will be closed and traffic diverted.

Motorists who need to access the road will be diverted via the M6 gyratory, Birmingham Road, Sargents Hill, Birmingham Road, Broadway, Broadway West, Wallows Lane and Bescott Road.

Sandwell's neighbourhoods councillor Derek Rowley said: "The footbridge is really important to pedestrians. Because it's right next to the motorway, we have worked with neighbouring councils and the Highways Agency to carefully plan this work." He added that the long-term benefits would outweigh the short-term disruption caused.