One of Birmingham’s oldest transport routes is to be shut down – to facilitate the Midland Metro tram extension.
An Act of Parliament passed 250 years ago led to the building of the Birmingham Main Line Canal.
But the stretch which runs below Broad Street is to be closed to narrowboats, pedestrians, runners and cyclists in January 2019 while the tram works proceed overhead.
It is not expected to reopen until the ‘early spring’.
During the closure, pedestrians, runners and cyclists heading towards the area from the Mailbox will have to take the stepped path up to Gas Street from Gas Street Basin and walk over Broad Street to reach the venue via Waters Edge.
In May 2017, we filmed Kiss fans walking along the towpath towards the US rockers' concert at the Arena Birmingham
On November 11, 2018, we revealed plans to reunite all four original members of Black Sabbath at the unveiling of a proposed stainless steel bench that would be installed on the Broad Street bridge over the canal in honour of the godfathers of heavy metal playing their first gig in the city 50 years ago in 1968.
The canal news follows the closure of lower Broad Street and the year-long shutdown of Paradise Queensway which crosses the end of Broad Street - all part of the £700 million scheme to regenerate Paradise itself.
The link from Sandpits to the A38 Queensway tunnel southbound closed on September 3, 2018 and is not expected to reopen until ‘summer 2019’.
Next to Broad Street, work to rebuild Centenary Square at a cost of £10 million is continuing.
But having originally said it would have been completed by the summer of this year, the city council announced in early October that it would not reopen until ‘ summer 2019’.
What is happening to the canal below Broad Street?
The Broad Street Canal Tunnel will close from Wednesday, January 2, 2019 as work gets underway to take the Metro to Edgbaston.
The Midland Metro Alliance, working on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority, will begin works for phase two of the Birmingham Westside Metro extension between Centenary Square and Hagley Road in January 2019.
These will be the first works of the second phase of the route which will ultimately see West Midland Metro services extended from Grand Central to the new terminus at 54 Hagley Road.
Broad Street Canal Tunnel will close to canal and towpath traffic in both directions until work is completed.
Two-way traffic signals will control vehicle traffic on the road above.
The works have been scheduled by the Midland Metro Alliance, with the support of the Canal & River Trust.
The timing has been chosen to ‘minimise disruption for the community living or working alongside the canal, which is traditionally busier in warmer months’.
The Canal & River Trust has been liaising with canal users including residents of Gas Street Basin to ensure they are familiar with the plans and alternative waterway routes/facilities.
What else is happening
Midland Metro Alliance will use an ‘innovative method’ to strengthen the bridge during the works.
Additional steelwork will be fitted in the existing brickwork of the late 18th century structure.
The system will be installed from the underside of the bridge and prevent the need for significant impact on the highway above.
What the bosses say
Steve Grimes, Midland Metro Alliance Project Director for the Birmingham Westside Metro Extension, said: “We recognise that there will be some disruption to those living, working, travelling and visiting the city during this vital next stage of Metro works.
“We are working closely with Birmingham City Council, local Business Improvement Districts, the Canal & River Trust, and Transport for West Midlands to minimise the impact.”
Adnan Saif, Regional Director for the Canal & River Trust in the West Midlands, said: “Birmingham’s waterways are an amazing historic legacy and we support these works to restore and strengthen the tunnel so that it can meet the challenges of modern day life.
"The Metro will bring people right into the heart of our amazing canal network and we very much hope that those coming into the city will take the opportunity to head down onto the towpath and feel the health and wellbeing benefits of being by water.
"In the meantime we’re grateful for the understanding shown by those on the canal while these important works take place.”
The extension plans
The Birmingham Westside Metro extension follows the Metro extension from St. Chads to Grand Central, which opened for passenger service in May 2016.
Once completed, the Metro will go beyond Five Ways to reach Hagley Road in Edgbaston.
Five new tram stops will connect passengers to Victoria Square, Centenary Square, Brindleyplace, Five Ways and Hagley Road.
The first phase of the works to Centenary Square is anticipated to open for passenger service in late 2019. This includes the stretch along upper Pinfold Street which has been ongoing for almost a year already.
The second phase of the route is planned to open for passenger service in 2021 in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
For any further information about the work and for maps of the diversion routes, please visit the website here
