HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release issued 14 January 2013

The Highways Agency and Birmingham City Council will be jointly undertaking improvement work on overhead gantries on the on A38 (M) Aston Expressway starting in January.

The Highways Agency will be replacing electronic signs along the Aston Expressway between Lancaster Circus and Park Circus. These signs enable the operation of the tidal flow ensuring that the heavy traffic flows during the morning and afternoon peaks are managed effectively. Other essential maintenance work to the gantries and structures will be carried out by Amey, who work in partnership with Birmingham City Council to maintain and manage the city’s roads.

The work is expected to start on Monday 21 January and will take approximately 11 weeks to complete. All work is being undertaken overnight (Monday to Thursday only) between 10pm and 6am.

The work has been planned to minimise disruption to road users with both the Highways Agency and Birmingham City Council work being undertaken concurrently and at night when traffic volumes are at their lowest.

While work is underway, the A38(M) will be closed overnight between Lancaster Circus and Park Circus. Closures and associated diversions will be signposted well in advance. Northbound traffic will be diverted via Dartmouth Circus, Aston Bridge, Aston Road North, Lichfield Road and then via Salford Circus. This diversion will apply in reverse for motorists travelling southbound. The carriageway will remain fully open during the day.

Highways Agency project manager, Mark Simmonite, said:

“This essential work is required to ensure that the tidal flow, which is key to the movement of traffic in and out of Birmingham, can be operated reliably.

“We have collaborated with Birmingham City Council and Amey to ensure careful planning and to keep disruption to motorists and the local community to a minimum.”

The A38(M) Aston Expressway links Birmingham with the M6 motorway. It is maintained by Birmingham City Council on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. The Highways Agency is contracted by the city council to maintain and operate the electronic signals on the gantries which control the ‘tidal flow’ system and also to set the messages on the variable message signs on its behalf.

Notes to Editors:

Birmingham City Council Press Office can be contacted on 0121 303 3287.

Issued by Highways Agency (West Midlands). Media enquiries for the Highways Agency should be directed to Bas Abdulla on 0121 678 5992. Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office (24hrs) on 08446931448.

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England’s motorways and other strategic roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and other strategic roads is available:

- From the web at www​.highways​.gov​.uk/​t​r​a​f​fic or www​.highways​.gov​.uk/​m​o​b​ile if using a phone or mobile device.
- By phone from the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 at any time. (Calls to 0300 numbers will cost no more than 5p per minute from a standard BT residential landline. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary, but will be no more than a standard geographic call and will be included in all inclusive minutes and discount schemes). Make sure it’s safe and legal before you call. Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency.
- On an iPhone app which will automatically select the region you are in. Free to download from the iTunes store or search for Highways Agency on your device.
- From Twitter – there are eight feeds with live traffic information provided by region. For information on roads in the West Midlands follow us at @HAtraffic_wmids or for the full index visit www​.highways​.gov​.uk/​t​w​i​t​ter.

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Birmingham City Council Press Office can be contacted on 0121 303 3287.

Issued by Highways Agency (West Midlands). Media enquiries for the Highways Agency should be directed to Bas Abdulla on 0121 678 5992. Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office (24hrs) on 08446931448.

Contacts:

Abbas Abdulla
Phone: 0121 678 5992
abbas.​abdulla@​highways.​gsi.​gov.​uk