THE final phase of the A38 improvement work at Bromsgrove is set to benefit from millions of pounds of government funding.
The government is investing more than £43million to install new lanes at key junctions and widen existing roads to improve traffic flow, reducing the threat of unnecessary bottlenecks.
A new cycle and pedestrian corridor parallel to the A38 will also be built, while new level crossings and overpasses will connect to the wider local cycle network.
The upgrades will take place on a 7.5 mile stretch of road, between the M5 Junction 4 to the north and the A38/B4094 to the south.
Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: “I know local Worcestershire residents have been affected by congestion along this key route for far too long.
“That’s why we’re investing over £43m, giving the region’s economy a huge boost and making sure people can get around the region faster and easier, whether for work, education or to see family and friends.”
A38 Stoke Road. Picture/Google Maps.
The government said the project will generate more than £93million in economic benefits for communities in the Midlands, with the improvements supporting 1,100 new homes and the development of 5,500 homes.
Leader of Worcestershire County Council, Councilor Simon Geraghty, said: “We are delighted that the A38 project has taken a major step forward on the road to securing £43 million in funding from the Ministry of transportation.
“This significant investment will help improve daily travel around Bromsgrove, make traffic easier for local people and boost the local economy.”
The total cost of the scheme is £49.8m, with the Department for Transport providing just over £43m and Worcestershire County Council providing the rest.
Improved traffic flow and reduced congestion will also reduce bus travel times and real-time passenger information will be installed at bus stops along the route, providing passengers with updates live.
Councilor Marc Bayliss, Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “This is great news for Worcestershire. Bromsgrove.
“Work on this important and much-needed endgame will see critical improvements along this key strategic link.
“It will provide access to the M42 and M5, whilst providing an important local role as the eastern bypass of Bromsgrove, providing access to housing, services and businesses.”
The chief executive of Midlands Connect, which develops transport projects for the region, said the funding was great news for businesses and residents.
“Upgrading and modernizing the A38 has been a major ambition of Midlands Connect and Worcestershire County Council and years of hard work, by many partners, has really paid off,” said Maria Machancoses.
“This improvement will reduce heavy traffic congestion on the road, but more than that, it will also improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists by upgrading existing facilities.”
Worcestershire County Council must now complete the design of the scheme; identify a preferred contractor and submit a full business case to the Department of Transportation for final funding approval.
If approved, work is expected to begin in early 2023 with the project opening to the public by the end of 2025.
