Major £65m bus and cycle scheme plan set for key Black Country route - here's where
A major scheme to introduce a raft of walking, cycling and bus lane upgrades on a key route through the Black Country is set to move a step closer.
Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Investment Board are expected to agree to use £6,909,050 from the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement funding for the development of the full business case for the A4123 Walk/Cycle and Bus Measures scheme.
The A4123 runs for 17km through Wolverhampton, Dudley and Sandwell – ending at Hagley Road.
Bosses said the overall scheme, which will cost more than £65 million in total, and will see a number of improvements delivered. These include:
Delivery of a two-way, segregated cycle track (wherever possible) over the 17km length of the corridor
Delivery of new improved pedestrian links and footways
Wayfinding/signage/communication for cycle and pedestrian routes
Improved connections to surrounding cycle infrastructure, including A461, A463 Black Country Route, NCN route 51 and NCN route 54
Junction upgrades with improvements to pedestrian and cycling crossing facilities, including A4123/Parkfield Junction, A463 Shaw Road and Ivyhouse Lane
Signal optimization to increase efficiency of junction, for example Shaw Road, Sedgley Road, Mason Street Ivyhouse Lane and Lower City Road Junctions
Improved street lighting along the route Integration of active travel with public transport / cycle hire / cycle parking
Consideration of bus priority at junctions
Improved bus stop facilities, including CCTV and removal of most bus bays
Real-time passenger information (RTPI) for bus travel
A Mobility Hub by Hagley Road
Interchange and rest areas with facilities including for vulnerable users
A report to the Investment Board said there were a number of objectives for the overall scheme including achieving a behavioural change and seeing increase use of active travel and public transport.
It also said it would improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions on the A4123 corridor and surrounding areas.
Another aim is to improve equality, inclusion, health and wellbeing for all through improved access to jobs, services and facilities.
A further objective is to enable housing development and economic growth by improving access to development sites along the A4123 corridor.
And it is also hoped to improve bus services along the route, making them faster and reducing journey times.
A decision will be taken when the Investment Board meets on Monday, July 21.
