Bearwood road junction ready for £700,000 revamp

The crossroads near the Bear Tavern, where Sandon Road and Three Shires Oak Road cross Bearwood Road, will be revamped over the next few months.

Changes will be made to signs and markings to make traffic flow more quickly – reducing delays and cutting down on air pollution.

The traffic lights will also be replaced and improved control systems will be fitted to make it easier for pedestrians to cross at busy times.

The whole junction and pavements around it will also be resurfaced and some guard rails will be replaced.

The zebra crossing at the corner of Bearwood Road and Ethel Street, near Bearwood Primary School, will be converted to a traffic light crossing.

And all of the pedestrian crossings will have a green man display on the opposite side of the road - making it safer for schoolchildren and other pedestrians to cross the road.

The project is being paid for by Sandwell Council and the work will be done by contractor Fitzgeralds.

Council leader Steve Eling said: "We're looking after the residents of Bearwood, drivers and pedestrians by improving safety and getting traffic through this junction quicker.

"We've already made major improvements to Bearwood in the past 12 months – we've repaired all of the pavements along Bearwood Road and we have new public spaces at the Corks Club garden and by the Baptist Church.

"New trees have been planted and green screens are being grown to improve the air quality and we have all new streetlights along the entire Bearwood Road – plus of course the Kings Head clock and the improvements at the bus station.

"We're making Bearwood a safer, more convenient and attractive area for residents, encourage walking and helping to boost shops and businesses in the town centre.

"There may be some disruption while the work is done, but the contractor we've chosen is experienced in this type of work and any disruption will be kept to an absolute minimum.

"We'd ask people to bear with us while we're carrying out this important work to improve this busy junction."

The project is the latest stage in a raft of improvements already made to Bearwood Road and the Cape Hill area.

Work is due to begin during the school summer holidays and will be completed in December.

Temporary traffic signals will be installed while old traffic lights are being replaced and lanes may need to be closed while resurfacing is done.

At times pavements around the junction will be partially closed.

Highways bosses said work will be done outside peak hours, in the evening and at weekends where necessary to limit disruption to traffic.