New proposals to reopen Birmingham's Paradise Circus - but not to cars
Birmingham’s Paradise Circus is being proposed to reopen with a new name – but not to cars.
New proposals announced by Birmingham City Council on May 11, aim to bring back Paradise Circus – renamed Lyon Queensway – which has been closed to through traffic since September 2018.
But the route which runs above ground alongside part of the A38 tunnels would only be open to buses, taxis and cycles in part.
This stretch would go between Baskerville House and Two Centenary Way – a building to come in phase three of the Paradise development.
Cars will still be able to use the tunnels below the area’s landmark Paradise development, and will be able to access the site from a number of points.
These are:
Holliday Street, buildings in the Paradise development, Town Hall and Swallow Street via the A38 from the south
The northern-most buildings in the Paradise development are proposed to be accessible from the A38 to the north
Cambridge Street and Paradise car park would be accessible via the Middleway (B4135 Summer Hill Road)
The proposals also suggest creating a “U-turn facility” for the Metro between the two Suffolk Street (A38) slip roads.
The city council has said the plans come in light of its efforts around improving air quality in the city – thought to be responsible for 900 deaths per year.
Councillor Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “I am absolutely committed to de-carbonising transport, reducing air pollution and improving travel and transport across the city.
“For the health of our citizens we simply cannot continue to have the number of high polluting private vehicles travelling through this area as they were previously.
“Transforming the city centre is one of the big moves outlined in the draft Birmingham Transport Plan. Fewer cars and more people travelling by bus, tram or train means less congestion and better air quality for everybody.
“To achieve this vision, we must ensure that public transport is constantly improving to make journeys quicker, easier and more reliable.”
A consultation on the proposals was launched today and will run until June 1.
Anyone wanting to contribute to the consultation is asked to visit the Birmingham Be Heard website.
