West Midlands Adjusts Routes for Road Work

Four Birmingham bus routes detour Monday as Tile Cross Road closes for maintenance

Birmingham Bus Routes Reroute for Road Work

Three Birmingham bus routes will take detours Monday as highway crews close Tile Cross Road at Bell Lane roundabout for maintenance work. The closure runs from 9:30am to 3pm on March 23, affecting Services 14, 17, 17A, and 72, transit officials said. Riders should expect longer travel times during the five-and-a-half-hour closure.

Context

The temporary closure allows highway maintenance crews to complete necessary roadwork at the Bell Lane roundabout intersection, according to the transit agency. Officials said the midday timing minimizes disruption to morning and evening commuters while giving workers adequate daylight hours. The agency didn't specify what type of highway work requires the closure or whether it's part of a larger infrastructure project. Transit systems typically coordinate with highway departments to schedule road closures during off-peak hours when ridership is lower.

Route Details

Service 14 will detour via St Giles Road, Shirestone Road, Tile Cross Road, and Bosworth Drive in both directions, officials said. Services 17 and 17A will run along The Radleys and Bell Lane when heading from Birmingham, with the reverse route in the opposite direction. Service 72 faces the most extensive reroute, traveling via St Giles Road, Shirestone Road, Tile Cross Road, Bosworth Drive, Chapelhouse Road, Gloucester Way, Moorend Avenue, and Station Road. All services will return to normal routes once buses clear the closure area, though officials haven't said how much additional travel time riders should expect on each route.

Timeline

The road closure takes effect at 9:30am Monday, March 23, and lasts until 3pm the same day. Bus diversions will remain in place throughout the closure period, with normal service resuming once highway work is completed and the road reopens. Officials said the closure only affects the specified five-and-a-half-hour window, with no additional closures announced for subsequent days.

Rider Impact

Passengers on affected routes should plan for longer journey times and allow extra travel time Monday afternoon, transit officials said. The agency advised riders to check departure times before traveling, though specific delay estimates for each diverted route weren't provided. Moovit provides real-time bus tracking and alternative route suggestions for Birmingham services during the temporary closure.