December 2022
County Council Cabinet agreed on 8th December that the full business case for the Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme will be further developed for submission to the Department of Transport (DfT).
The remaining work (originally all part of Phase 3) has been split into two phases, to form Phase 3 and Phase 4, as a solution to high inflation specifically around large infrastructure schemes.
The government has committed funding for the delivery of the scheme which will go towards Phase 3 of the works but Phase 4 will need further funding.
November 2022
Cabinet to consider submission of Full Business Case
Following approval of the Outline Business Case by the Department for Transport (DfT) earlier this year, work has been carried out on the production of a Full Business Case (FBC) which is the next stage of the process. Cabinet will be asked to approve submission of the FBC to the DfT on 8 December.
Should this be approved, a further update will be posted on this page.
A summary report regarding the public engagement exercise carried out on Scheme 9 and the alternative to Scheme 3 will be published this year
August 2022
The Department for Transport made the following announcement:
Vital A38 upgrades to support thousands of new homes and jobs in Worcestershire
- vital works to A38 will generate more than £93 million in economic benefits for the Midlands
- improvements will support 1,100 new jobs and 5,500 new homes in the region
- part of Government’s continued action to level up transport, tackle local congestion and improve journeys
People in Worcestershire are set to benefit from more than £43 million of Government funding for A38 upgrades to tackle congestion, improve local journeys, and support thousands of new jobs and homes.
The project will generate more than £93 million in economic benefits for local communities in the Midlands, with the improvements directly supporting 1,100 new jobs and the development of 5,500 new homes as the Government continues to grow the economy, helping to address the cost of living.
The A38 currently experiences significant congestion during the weekday rush hour, with severe delays at junctions and unreliable journey times affecting local residents’ ability to travel and get to work.
Planned works will install new lanes at key junctions and widen the existing road, helping to improve traffic flow and reduce the threat of any unnecessary bottlenecks in the region. These upgrades will take place on a 7.5 mile stretch of the route, between the M5 Junction 4 to the north and the A38/B4094 to the south.
Transport Minister Baroness Vere said:
“I know local residents in Worcestershire have been affected by congestion along this key route for too long.
“That’s why we’re investing more than £43 million, providing a huge boost to the area’s economy and ensuring people can get around the region quicker and easier – whether that be for work, education or to see family and friends.
“We’ll continue investing in important transport schemes across the country, just like this one, as we level up, support local economies, and provide people with the world-class infrastructure they deserve.”
The improved traffic flow and lower congestion will also reduce journey times for local buses, making commutes shorter and more reliable. Real time passenger information will be installed at bus stops along the route which will provide passengers with live updates to help them plan their journey, in line with the Government’s long term strategy for buses outside London.
Local residents will benefit from improved walking and cycling facilities. A new cycle and pedestrian corridor running parallel to the A38 will be built, while new crossings and overbridges will connect to the wider local cycle network. This will improve safety, provide more options for active travel and support the drive to net zero.
The total cost of the scheme is £49.8 million, with the Department for Transport committing to provide just over £43 million and Worcestershire County Council providing the remainder.
Worcestershire County Council's Leader, Councillor Simon Geraghty, said:
“We are delighted that the A38 project has taken a huge next step forward in the journey towards securing £43 million funding from the Department for Transport.
“This significant investment will help improve everyday journeys around Bromsgrove, easing traffic for local people, as well as boosting the local economy.”
The scheme comes as part of the Government’s drive to level up transport, reduce emissions by boosting opportunities for cycling and walking, and create more opportunities for people right across the country.
It’s the latest in a series of Government investments to boost local transport infrastructure, including £5.7 billion for future local transport projects and more than £160 million in four major road projects across England.
The local council must now successfully complete the design of the project; identify a preferred contractor; and submit to the Department a Full Business Case for final funding approval. If that is approved works are expected to start in early 2023.
11 November 2021
Council decides on Bromsgrove A38 schemes in advance of funding application
A funding application for £49million to allow Worcestershire County Council to cut congestion in Bromsgrove will be submitted to the Department for Transport later this month.
The Outline Business Case for significant investment would enable the County Council to deliver Phase 3 of the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme.
Councillor Alan Amos, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport said:
“The A38 is one of the most important and busiest roads in the county which suffers from heavy congestion at peak times leading to prolonged and unreliable journey times with subsequent environmental impacts.
If nothing is done to address these issues, the situation will only get worse leading to more congestion. We received some valuable feedback from local residents and we have made revisions to two of the schemes within the programme.
We had originally planned to close the junction of School Lane and the A38, however I have decided that we will keep School Lane open. We will instead only prohibit the right turn from the A38, given the need to keep traffic flowing and reduce congestion, both being key objectives of this scheme."
The original proposals also included plans to construct a pedestrian and cycling footbridge to link the two severed ends of Old Station Road on either side of the A38 which is on a direct line between the railway station and town centre. However, the County Council has paused the development of the bridge scheme whilst exploring the possibility of other options that could deliver the same objectives”.
6 August 2021
Next step for Bromsgrove’s newest walking and cycling bridge
A brand-new footbridge in Bromsgrove is progressing well and has now had its bridge beams installed.
The beams will join up the segregated cycle and footway between Charford Road and Harvington Road in Bromsgrove.
The footbridge, once complete, will allow for better access by walking and cycling as part of a range of improvements along the whole A38 corridor.
Councillor Alan Amos, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport for Worcestershire County Council, said: “The schemes to complete the Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme on the A38 are gathering pace, with yet another element to improve walking and cycling connectivity being moved into place last month.
“This bridge, alongside other infrastructure improvements in the A38 corridor will vastly improve walking and cycling routes in the area.”
The bridge beams were lifted into place over two nights, late last month, on 22 and 23 July.
Further works will be needed before the bridge becomes operational including the connection to the existing shared use footway network on both sides.
It is expected that the bridge will be open for public use in the Autumn.
27 May 2021
Bromsgrove improvements progressing well
Works on three schemes to make improvements along the A38 corridor in Bromsgrove are progressing well.
These Phase 2 works are being delivered by Worcestershire County Council, as part of the wider A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (A38 BREP).
The improvements will enhance the cycling and walking network in and around the town, and link in with other County Council schemes.
The three schemes will see the following improvements made:
A new Toucan Crossing created on the A448 Stratford Road, adjacent to Blackwood Road and Fordhouse Road.
A segregated footway/cycleway between Harvington Road and Charford Road.
An upgrade to the northern footpath on Charford Road between the A38 and South Bromsgrove School.
24 February 2021
Two new schemes added to list of proposed A38 Bromsgrove improvements
Worcestershire County Council wants to hear from residents about two new schemes that have been developed to help improve the cycling and walking network in the A38 Bromsgrove corridor.
Following feedback from residents at the Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP) engagement sessions which were held across the town last year, two new schemes have been added to the proposed improvements.
Scheme 1 would see the creation of a new segregated walking and cycling route alongside this section of the A38. It would also include the removal of the left turn bypass lane at the Slideslow Drive roundabout, allowing a new toucan crossing on Slideslow Drive to be created.
Scheme 6 would see works taking place on Regents Park Road, between the roundabout with the A38/A448 and Royal Worcester Crescent. The works would include the addition of a shared foot/cycleway, which will link into current facilities within the Oakalls Estate.
Any feedback can then be sent to majorprojects@worcestershire.gov.uk.
The deadline for your feedback is Friday 19th March 2021.
10 February 2021
A38 motorway junction improvements set to take another step forward
The works to make improvements to the A38 at Junction 1 of the M42 in Bromsgrove are progressing well.
Works to widen the A38 northbound have been completed, with the focus now on widening the southbound section, installing the new service road to improve access to properties and adding the central splitter island to enhance crossing facilities.
The works are part of the wider A38 Bromsgrove Improvement Scheme, which has already seen improvements made at Barley Mow Lane and the A38 at junction 4 of the M5.
To allow the works to progress, some overnight works are needed for resurfacing and the updating of road markings. The works will happen in two phases. The first phase will be from 18th February to 3rd March, between 9pm-6am.
This will involve the closure of the exits and entries to the roundabout, including the M42 slip roads, Old Birmingham Road and Alcester Road. The A38 will remain open, with two-way traffic signals either side of the roundabout.
Phase two, will take place between 4th March and 11th March, between 9pm-6am. This will involve closure of the A38 north of the roundabout to the Topaz Business Park, to allow for resurfacing and line-marking.
9 February 2021
Further Bromsgrove walking and cycling improvements to start this month
Works on two schemes to make improvements along the A38 corridor in Bromsgrove will get underway this month.
These works, which will start during week commencing 15th February, are part of three schemes which are being delivered by Worcestershire County Council, prior to the wider A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP).
The works will make additional improvements and link into other schemes to enhance the cycling and walking network in and around the town.
21 December 2020
Walking and cycling improvements to push ahead
Works on three proposed schemes to make improvements along the A38 corridor in Bromsgrove are set to go ahead, prior to the wider A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP) being delivered by Worcestershire County Council.
The three schemes will make additional improvements and link into other schemes, to enhance the cycling and walking network in and around the town.
These three schemes aim to provide a high-quality walking and cycling corridor between the Artrix area and Charford Road.
The works include, a new Toucan Crossing of the A448 Stratford Road, adjacent to Blackwood Road and Fordhouse Road, a segregated footway/cycleway between Harvington Road and Charford Lane and an upgrade to the northern footpath on Charford Road between the A38 and South Bromsgrove School, which will include a new Toucan Crossing.
Works are set to start on these three schemes early in 2021.
14 October 2020
Major A38 Bromsgrove improvements seeking approval for next step
The proposed scheme to make further improvements to the A38 in Bromsgrove is set to go before Worcestershire County Council Cabinet next week.
The Cabinet meeting, taking place on Thursday 22nd October, will include discussions on the set of proposals that make up the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP). A decision is to be made as to whether the programme of works can move on the next stage of submitting the funding bid to the Department for Transport.
This focuses on a programme of schemes that aim to build on the work that’s already underway on the A38 in Bromsgrove, to reduce congestion and improve further, the walking and cycling network in and around the town.
23 September 2020
Overnight closures at M5 Junction 4
Please be aware of the following night closures, as part of the improvement works on the A38 at M5 J4:
Wed 23 Sept : 9pm to 6am
Thur 24 Sept: 9pm to 6am
Fri 25 Sept: 9pm to 6am
14 July 2020
M42 Junction 1 improvements set to get underway
Works to make improvements to Junction 1 of the M42 in Bromsgrove are set to get underway next week.
The works which are being carried out by Worcestershire County Council will start week beginning 20th July and include widening of both the A38 northbound exit and southbound approach to the roundabout and a new service road for properties facing the A38 southbound, offering improved access for vehicles.
The works are part of the wider A38 Bromsgrove Improvement scheme, which has already seen improvements made at Barley Mow Lane and work started last month on improvements to junction 4 of the M5.
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