Traffic changes will come into force in the westside of Birmingham city centre in an effort to ease congestion during the next phase of the Metro extension to Edgbaston.

As part of the changes, the direction of traffic will be reversed in Gas Street and Berkley Street to help improve traffic flow in the Broad Street area. It will mean that inbound traffic will use Gas Street while Berkley Street will lead drivers southbound out of the city centre.

A roundabout will also be installed at the junction of Berkley Street and Gas Street to further improve the movement of traffic. Work is set to start on Monday 13 May and is expected to last approximately four weeks. The changes will be implemented once construction is complete.

Tom Willetts, Midland Metro Alliance Project Lead for the Edgbaston phase of the Birmingham Westside Metro extension, said: “The changes to Gas Street and Berkley Street will not only improve traffic flow but will also help to reduce congestion, improving journey times for drivers. Reversing the traffic flow will allow us to start construction on the next phase of the project, which has a key role to play in unlocking further investment and jobs, not just in Birmingham but across the West Midlands.”

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 operate between Grand Central and Hagley Road in Edgbaston, improving transport links in the heart of Birmingham, making journeys faster and more accessible, in turn helping businesses and supporting more jobs.

Five new tram stops will connect passengers to Victoria Square, Centenary Square, Brindleyplace, Five Ways and Hagley Road, with links to popular attractions including the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall, allowing more people to use the Metro in this area for day-to-day travel, reducing road congestion in the city centre, as well as improving sustainable transport options along Broad Street and beyond.

The first phase of the works, to open for passenger service in late 2019, will see the route extend from Grand Central to Centenary Square. The second phase of the route, anticipated to open for passenger service in 2021 in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, will continue to Edgbaston.

For any further information about the work, please visit: www.metroalliance.co.uk and for information on public transport in the West Midlands visit www.networkwestmidlands.com