Sandwell Council leader: Get on with Birchley Island revamp
Long-awaited work to revamp one of the Black Country's busiest roundabouts needs to be completed 'as soon as possible' to tackle congestion, a council leader has warned.
The overhaul of Birchley Island at Junction 2 of the M5 has been in the pipeline since 2014.
Ongoing roadworks elsewhere on the motorway are causing serious delays for motorists using the island in Oldbury, which sits at the junctions of the M5 and Wolverhampton Road/Birmingham New Road.
Sandwell Council leader Steve Eling has today called for funding for the plans to upgrade the roundabout to be handed down 'sooner rather than later' – saying 'something needs to be done' to combat the daily disruption for commuters.
The scheme preferred by the council would see changes to lanes but also involves extending Wolverhampton Road on a new roadway through the roundabout to create a two-way 'hamburger' island. That could cost around £12.7m.
Councillor Eling said: "The only thing we're waiting for is the funding to actually deliver this.
"A lot of work has been done on Junction 2 and now it's sitting there gathering dust.
"Really we need to get on with the job and get the funding – that can't come soon enough.
"A scheme has been developed that will increase the capacity at that island so it can deliver more traffic.
"It needs to be done and get under way as soon as possible. The improvement is needed."
The 'hamburger' scheme which would see it be spilt in two to allow traffic to run through the centre of it, was approved by planners last year.
If and when the work begins, it is expected to take two years to complete.
Last year, the the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – a crucial funding source for the scheme – said it was not set to award any cash from its Local Growth Fund towards the Birchley Island revamp for at least the next five years.
However, Councillor Eling has urged LEP bosses to think again.
Birchley Island is used by around 92,000 drivers a day. Queues regularly build up during rush hour, particularly on the Birmingham New Road side heading towards the M5.
Under the masterplan Wolverhampton Road will be reconstructed so it passes through the current island in both directions next to the electricity sub-station.
There will also be four lanes from Junction 2 of the M5 to and from Birchley Island and traffic signals will also be installed along the Churchbridge approach.
