Birmingham Route 50 Adjusts for Tree Maintenance

Birmingham Route 50 buses detour via Highgate Middleway March 13 for tree maintenance work

Birmingham Route 50 Diverts March 13 for Tree Work

Birmingham's Route 50 will detour around a section of Moseley Road on Friday, March 13, transit officials said. NX Bus West Midlands confirmed the diversion affects buses heading toward Druids Heath from 9:30am until 2pm. The change accommodates tree work between Highgate Middleway and Highgate Road in Balsall Heath, though officials didn't specify how many trees will be trimmed or what type of maintenance is planned.

The road closure is part of routine tree maintenance work along the corridor, according to the transit agency. Officials said the midday timing aims to minimize disruption during peak commute hours while allowing crews to complete the work safely. Tree maintenance along bus routes typically involves trimming branches that interfere with overhead clearances or obstruct driver visibility. The West Midlands region regularly schedules such work to maintain safe operating conditions for buses and other vehicles.

Buses toward Druids Heath will reroute along Highgate Middleway, pass the Moseley Road junction, continue through Haden Circus, and take the second exit onto Haden Way before rejoining the regular route, NX Bus West Midlands said. The detour adds approximately 0.8 miles to the journey, though officials haven't said how much additional travel time riders should expect. Buses heading toward Birmingham won't be affected and will follow their normal route. The agency operates throughout the West Midlands as part of Mobico Group and offers mTicket, Swift card, and contactless payment options.

The closure runs from 9:30am to 2pm on March 13, giving crews a four-and-a-half-hour window to complete the tree work. Officials said the road will reopen by 2pm, though they didn't specify whether buses will immediately resume normal routing or if there might be a brief transition period. The agency typically restores regular service as soon as road closures end, but officials haven't confirmed that timeline for this specific closure.

Passengers traveling toward Druids Heath during the closure should allow extra time for the detour, transit officials said. The agency advises riders to check schedules before traveling, though officials didn't say whether printed timetables will reflect the temporary change or if it'll only appear in real-time systems. NX Bus West Midlands said passengers can use the timetable search function on their system for updated schedules. Moovit provides real-time bus tracking and service alerts for Route 50 and other Birmingham transit services, helping riders navigate temporary changes and plan trips around disruptions.