Anyone passing by Birmingham Road over Christmas can’t have missed the work being carried out on the southern bypass railway bridge. When completed the £17.5 million Lichfield Southern Bypass scheme will connect the A5127 Birmingham Road with the A5206 London Road.
During Christmas week 2019, work took place by contractors Amey to install a new railway bridge to allow construction of the underpass underneath. Work began at midnight on Christmas Eve and continued until 28th December, although preparations had been underway for several months. The railway bridge and the connection to Birmingham Road roundabout is being funded by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, with the remaining 600 metre stretch is being funded by a developer.
So what about the canal tunnel?
We haven’t missed the boat. Firstly, it became evident that our Tunnel
Vision would have to wait for the County Council contractors, Amey, to complete
the installation of their bridge as their work has taken up all of the land available.
Secondly, we’ve recently had confirmation from Network Rail that the work on our
tunnel will not need a closure of the railway services, but just a go-slow while
we’re working.
What next?
As a first stage, the enabling work for our canal tunnel is planned to start after
the land used for the bypass work becomes available. We may have had a
temporary reprieve but the urgency is still there. We will need to complete our
tunnel before the before the new St John's housing estate is completed so our
fundraising must continue.
We have raised £563,878 so far towards the £1 million target, but the full costs
have not yet been finalised.
Please visit our Tunnel Vision webpage. Our fundraising will continue - please help us to 'see it through'.
Photos by touluru. More photos on Flickr
