Drivers are being warned ahead of closures of a major route through Birmingham city centre. The A38 Queensway and St Chad's tunnels will be closing for five nights this month, starting tomorrow (September 20). Closures are overnight only and start at 10pm through to 5am. The tunnels will also be closing on several nights in November and December too.
September closures
From September 20 to September 24 inclusive, the A38 Queensway and St Chad's tunnels will be closed each night between 10pm and 5am. This is the first of three planned closure periods for the tunnels.
November and December closures
In November, the tunnels will close from November 8 to November 12, again between 10pm and 5am. In December, closures are scheduled for December 13 to December 17, with the same overnight hours.
It comes as the city council revealed the A38 tunnels could close to through traffic, in the wide-ranging Transport plan proposed. The plan could see traffic redirected to ring roads, then back in to the city for local journeys, in plans to improve air quality and get more people walking and cycling in the city centre.
History of the route
The Great Charles Street Queensway tunnel section of the A38 was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1971, and it's been a busy route for cars ever since. The upcoming closures are part of essential maintenance work, though the council has not specified the exact nature of the work.
Drivers are advised to plan alternative routes during the closure periods. The full list of closures is as follows: September 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; November 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; and December 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. All closures are from 10pm to 5am.
