Major delays as £3.7m alterations planned for one of Dudley's busiest junctions - here's when work could start

Work on the scheme for Burnt Tree junction, where the Birmingham New Road, meets three other major routes, could begin as early as the end of this year, according to a report that will be presented to councillors on Thursday.

The scheme will be funded by the Department of Transport via the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to improve bus routes from Dudley to Birmingham.

Sign up to our free newsletter today

It will be the largest road scheme on the junction since the former traffic island was removed in a scheme which ran from 2008 to 2011.

Birmingham New Road also had to close during 2023 while the former railway bridge was replaced to accommodate the new West Midlands Metro tram line.

A timetable for the works, which will see improvements to the bus lanes, has yet to be revealed, but the papers suggest that work will finally be completed during 2027. 

The report said that in 2020 the Government provided funding to improve bus services between Dudley and Birmingham.

However, it said opportunities to give full priority to buses were constrained by the width of the road and its capacity.

Traffic lights will also be reconfigured to benefit buses, cyclists and pedestrians, the report said, improving the performance of the 74, 87 and 126 bus services.

It said a public consultation was held last year, and attracted 58 responses, with no objections.

all run through Dudley via the Burnt Tree junction. In Dudley, the nature of the roads along which the cross-city route runs means that opportunities for full bus priority are limited either by road width, or capacity constraints. The Dudley elements of the programme consists solely of interventions at the Burnt Tree junctions where benefits to bus patrons and other users can be derived. Burnt Tree Junction Improvement Proposals 4. Due to the strategic importance of the Burnt Tree junctions to commuters and businesses,

"It is anticipated that the works at Burnt Tree scheme will be in a position to move to delivery later this year depending on timescales for necessary approvals," said the report.

It said Dudley Council would be taking the lead on the project, which straddles the boundary into neighbouring Sandwell. 

"Dudley Council Officers delivered the previous scheme at this junction many years ago and therefore have the expertise that will specifically benefit the delivery this project," the report said.

It said Sandwell Council was fully in support of the scheme, and had acquired land required for the work.