£50M A38 Bromsgrove upgrade to begin ‘within weeks’ despite no contractor appointment

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Worcestershire County Council officials said “contactors will be appointed shortly”.

The scheme will aim to radically improve the A38 Bromsgrove, aiming to make it easier for Worcestershire residents to get to Birmingham, Bristol and Gloucester.

It is backed by £43M Department for Transport (DfT) funding announced in March and will deliver major upgrades on a 6.4km stretch of the A38 between M42 Junction 1 to the north and the junction of A38 with B4094 Worcester Road in the south. Work will focus on improvements at key junctions to prevent bottlenecks and improve traffic flow, in turn reducing journey times.

Improved walking and cycling facilities are also included in the works with a new cycle and pedestrian corridor running parallel to the A38 planned to be constructed. New crossings will also make it easier to access the wider local cycle network and improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians

It is said that the upgrade will provide £93M in economic benefits for the West Midlands, supporting 5,500 new homes and 1,100 new jobs in the region.

A DfT statement said: “The upgrades are vital to tackle congestion across the A38 and grow the economy in the region by boosting local connectivity.

“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.”

With a total price tag of £49.8M, Worcestershire County Council will cover the £6.8M gap after the DfT’s contribution.

Worcestershire County Council cabinet member with responsibility for economy, infrastructure and skills councillor Marc Bayliss said: “I am delighted that our A38 project has received the funding boost from government that it hugely deserves.

“With over £43M awarded by DfT, we’ll be able to help improve everyday journeys around Bromsgrove and ease traffic for people, as well as boosting the local economy.

“Following this announcement, I am pleased to say that contactors will be appointed shortly and work will begin on the improvements later this year.”

Roads minister Richard Holden said: “Thanks to our £43M 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.

“With work set to begin in the coming weeks, these improvements will bolster the local economy through new jobs and homes, while making journeys quicker and smoother for people to get around the area.”

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