Improving the local road network in the Interchange Area

To ensure that the local road network is fit for purpose when the future HS2 Interchange Station is operational, we are remodelling and improving the existing network and creating new routes on HS2 land. The creation of this new road network is concentrated near the A452 Chester Road, the A45 Coventry Road and the M42.

We have been carrying out works near the A452, A45 and M42 since 2018. We refer to this area as the Interchange area because it will be the home of the future HS2 Interchange Station. Located near to the National Exhibition Centre and Birmingham Airport, Interchange Station will be a major transport gateway for the region, providing high speed rail connections to London, Birmingham and the north of England.

Early works for this programme are being carried out by Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons known as LM, and main works are being carried out by Balfour Beatty VINCI known as BBV.

Four highways bridges will connect the new road network with existing routes. The first of these new bridges – a 65-metre structure spanning the width of the M42 – was successfully installed in August 2020. The installation was safely carried out under a weekend closure of the M42 between junctions 6 and 7, in both directions, on Saturday 8 August 2020. Careful planning meant the motorway reopened 22 hours ahead of schedule.

The new highways bridge shortly after being installed over the M42

We then successfully installed a second bridge over the A446 under a weekend closure along sections of the A452 Chester Road (northbound) and A446 Stonebridge Road (northbound and southbound) between Stonebridge Island and M6 junction 4 in October 2020. Careful planning meant the network reopened 24 hours ahead of schedule.

The new highways bridge being installed over the A446

To take traffic over the future railway route, we are finalising the construction of two bridges on HS2 land surrounded by the A452, A45 and M42. No traffic measures are required to complete these bridges.

Artist's impression of the new highways bridges over the future HS2 railway route

LM will remain operational in the Interchange area until approximately summer 2022. In preparation for LM’s departure, work sites in the area are being gradually passed to HS2’s main works contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI, known as BBV. This handover is required because each contractor is responsible for constructing and connecting different parts of the remodelled and improved road network, in preparation for the future HS2 Interchange Station.

To ensure that the local road network is fit for purpose when Interchange Station is operational, LM will continue to remodel and improve the existing network and create new routes on HS2 land, west of the M42, in 2021. To date, LM has carried out several successful weekend closures in the area to connect parts of the existing network to the new routes that have been created, and installed new pedestrian footpaths, kerb lines and central reservations in the area.

Upon completion, a new T-junction will replace Northway Island, which is currently located over the M42. A new ‘longabout’ is already in operation outside the Holiday Inn Express NEC, on the way to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). In the future, you will be able to safely access all routes east of the motorway by using HS2’s highways bridge over the M42.

Artist's impression of the completed highways network near the future HS2 Interchange Station

We started the creation of the new T-junction in April 2021 and this programme will continue throughout 2021 with periodical changes to traffic measures. From Monday 19 July to late August 2021, two short sections of Northway Island will be closed . Depending on your direction of travel, road users will no longer be able to travel around the whole of the Island and you may be redirected from Northway Island, along the A452 or B4438, and back. You will still be able to access all routes, there will just be a short diversion from some parts of Northway Island . Direction of travel along the B4438, A452 and Northway will be unaffected.

You can also find out more about this programme of works on HS2’s interactive works map .

The map above outlines the new direction of travel for road users from Monday 19 July around Northway Island

A new direction of travel around Northway Island will be installed following this phase of our programme. We’ll inform you of any changes to the direction of travel around Northway Island before they take effect at www.hs2insolihull.co.uk .

From mid-2021, BBV will begin preparations to remodel and improve the remainder of the network east of the M42. This work will be mainly concentrated on HS2 land.

If you have any questions regarding our works in the Interchange area, please contact the HS2 Helpdesk. You can contact our Helpdesk team all day, every day on :

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