Tipton bridge vanishes in Metro works
An old railway bridge over the disused South Staffordshire Railway line has been demolished to make way for a Metro extension.
A new structure will be built later next year at the site in Tipton, as construction continues to move forward on the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension.
Structural specialists are also at work assessing and finalising details for the replacement of existing structures across Sandwell and Dudley.
Earlier in the summer, commuters were asked to plan their journeys as the works involved a partial closure of the highway and footpath along Sedgley Road East.
Due to these works now being close to completion the closure is expected to be lifted before the end of the six weeks holiday.
David Lea, structures discipline design lead at the Midland Metro Alliance, the organisation designing and constructing the route on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which owns the West Midlands Metro, said: “The carefully planned, safe and efficient removal of the bridge deck and abutments at Sedgley Road marks an important milestone for the project, the first of many as we work to prepare the route for the new Metro extension.”
West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, said: “Infrastructure projects, such as the building of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro route, are critical to our recovery from the coronavirus pandemic as they help to generate money for the local economy and secure and create local jobs for local people.
“Because of this I am determined we press ahead with the new metro line for the Black Country, and it is great to see another key milestone reached.
Once up and running there will be up to 17 new stops and the new system will also reduce journey times.
