Birmingham Buses Reroute for Crane Work

Eleven Birmingham bus routes will detour for 36 hours starting Friday for crane work

Birmingham Closes Snow Hill Queensway for 36 Hours

Eleven bus routes in Birmingham will detour through alternate city center streets this weekend as Snow Hill Queensway closes for crane operations. The closure runs 36 hours from 7am Friday, April 4th through 7pm Sunday, April 5th, affecting the section between St Chads Queensway and Colmore Circus Queensway. Routes 7, 9, 12, 13, 16, 52, 74, 101, 126, X8, and X10 will follow different paths depending on their direction of travel.

Major Artery Affected

Snow Hill Queensway serves as a major artery for bus services connecting various parts of Birmingham, making this one of the more significant temporary disruptions to the city's bus network this year. The closure accommodates a crane lift operation that requires the full roadway to be clear for safety reasons. Transit officials said the work must be completed during a continuous 36-hour window to ensure the operation's success. The affected section typically handles thousands of bus passengers daily across the 11 routes that normally use the corridor.

Alternative Routes Mapped

The diverted routes will use alternative paths through the city center including Colmore Row, Weaman Street, Whittall Street, Great Charles Street Queensway, and Livery Street. Each of the 11 bus services will follow different diversion routes depending on their direction of travel, transit officials said. The detours add distance to most affected routes, though officials didn't specify exactly how much additional travel time passengers should expect. Drivers have been briefed on the temporary routing changes to ensure smooth operations throughout the closure period.

Weekend Timeline

The closure begins at 7am Friday, April 4th and continues through 7pm Sunday, April 5th, when Snow Hill Queensway will reopen to normal traffic. All affected bus services will return to their regular routes immediately after the Sunday evening reopening, officials confirmed. The weekend timing was chosen to minimize disruption to weekday commuters, though weekend riders will still face the detours.

Rider Guidance

Passengers should expect longer travel times and are advised to allow extra time for their journeys during the 36-hour closure period. Transit officials said riders should plan for delays and consider alternative departure times if possible. Moovit provides real-time bus locations and updated arrival times for all Birmingham routes during the closure, helping passengers track their diverted services and plan connections accordingly.