West Midlands Adjusts Routes for Metro Expansion
Two High Street bus stops close March 30-April 10 for metro construction work
High Street Bus Stops Close for Metro Work
Two bus stops on High Street in Birmingham City Centre will close for nearly two weeks as MMA Metro construction work continues. NX Bus West Midlands announced that stops MS19 and MS20 will be unavailable from Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 10, 2026. Four bus routes—services 45, 47, 97, and 97A—will use alternate stops during the closure period.
Metro Expansion Drives Temporary Changes
The stop closures are part of ongoing MMA Metro infrastructure work in Birmingham's city center, transit officials said. Metro expansion projects typically require temporary street-level modifications to accommodate track installation, station construction, and utility relocations. The work affects a busy section of High Street that serves multiple bus routes connecting residential areas to the city center. Officials didn't specify which phase of metro construction is driving these particular closures or how many riders use the affected stops daily.
Four Routes Get New Pickup Points
Services 45 and 47 will be redirected to stop MS7 on Carrs Lane during the closure period. Routes 97 and 97A will see more complex changes depending on direction. Buses heading toward Birmingham will use stop MS8A on Moor Street Queensway, then continue along Moor Street Queensway, turn right onto Park Street, and terminate at stand MS24 in the bus interchange. Services departing Birmingham will start at stop MS24, turn left onto Moor Street Queensway, and rejoin their normal route from stop MS16.
Two-Week Closure Runs Through April
The temporary stop closures take effect Monday, March 30, 2026 and will remain in place through Friday, April 10, 2026. The nearly two-week timeframe suggests substantial construction work at the High Street location. Transit officials didn't say whether the closure period could be extended if metro work takes longer than anticipated or whether weekend service will be affected differently than weekday operations.
Riders Should Plan for Different Stops
Passengers who regularly use stops MS19 and MS20 should allow extra time to reach alternate pickup locations and familiarize themselves with the temporary stop assignments before the changes take effect. The redirected stops on Carrs Lane and Moor Street Queensway may require different walking routes from riders' usual boarding points. Moovit provides real-time bus locations and updated stop information for Birmingham services during construction-related changes.
