A38 Bromsgrove improvements will improve traffic flow to reduce journey times
The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed work will soon start on major improvements to the A38 Bromsgrove in the West Midlands, reducing journey times, creating new opportunities for cycling and walking and boosting connections to Birmingham, Bristol and Gloucester.
The A38 has been affected by slow traffic flow at key junctions and severe congestion during the weekday rush hour, affecting local residents’ ability to get around.
The scheme – backed by £43 million in government funding – will deliver major upgrades on a 4 mile stretch of the A38 between M42 Junction 1 to the north and the junction of A38 with B4094 Worcester Road in the south. These upgrades will focus on improvements at key junctions to prevent bottleneck and improve traffic flow to reduce journey times.
The upgrades are expected to support over 1,100 new local jobs and 5,500 new homes, generating over £93 million in economic benefits for Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
Roads Minister Richard Holden said, “Thanks to our £43 million investment, these crucial upgrades will help reduce severe traffic congestion and poor connectivity for residents in Bromsgrove and Worcestershire, while making it easier to cycle and walk in Worcestershire.”
Junction improvements will also reduce journey times for local buses, making bus services more reliable and punctual. Real-time passenger information will be installed at bus stops along the route to provide passengers with live updates.
The total cost of the scheme is £49.8 million, with Worcestershire County Council providing the rest of the funding.
Councillor Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills at the County Council, said, “I am delighted that our A38 project has received the funding boost from government that it hugely deserves. Following this announcement, I am pleased to say that contactors will be appointed shortly and work will begin on the improvements later this year.”