West Midlands Adjusts Routes for Tree Maintenance
Birmingham bus routes 47 and 48 diverted March 11 for tree maintenance work
Birmingham Bus Routes 47, 48 Diverted March 11
Bus riders in Birmingham's Turves Green and Longbridge neighborhoods will face service changes Wednesday as tree work closes a key road. NX Bus West Midlands confirmed Turves Green will be closed between Longbridge Lane and West Heath Road from 9:30am until 2:30pm on March 11, 2026. Routes 47 and 48 will follow temporary diversions during the five-hour closure, affecting riders traveling between Birmingham, Hawkesley, and West Bromwich.
Tree Maintenance Requires Temporary Road Closure
The closure allows crews to complete essential tree maintenance work safely along the Turves Green corridor, transit officials said. Road closures for vegetation management are standard practice for transit agencies, ensuring trees near bus routes don't interfere with overhead wires or obstruct driver visibility. The work is scheduled during midday hours to minimize impact on morning and evening commuters. Officials didn't specify how many trees will be trimmed or whether the work is part of a larger maintenance program in the area.
Route 47 Via Staple Lodge, Route 48 Via Roundabout
Service 47 heading from Birmingham will divert via Staple Lodge Road, turn left onto West Heath Road, take the second exit at Alvechurch Road, third exit at Cofton Road, and turn right onto Longbridge Lane, according to NX Bus West Midlands. Buses toward Birmingham will follow the reverse route. Service 48 heading toward Hawkesley will continue along West Heath Road, pass the Turves Green junction, u-turn at Lilley Lane roundabout, and serve the stop outside the church before rejoining the normal route on Cropredy Road. Buses toward West Bromwich will follow the reverse diversion.
Services Resume Normal Routes After 2:30pm
Both routes will return to regular service once tree work concludes at 2:30pm Wednesday, transit officials said. The agency announced the changes Tuesday, giving riders one day's advance notice. Whether similar closures are planned for other sections of the route network wasn't specified. Transit agencies typically schedule maintenance work requiring road closures during off-peak hours when ridership is lower.
Riders Should Allow Extra Travel Time Wednesday
Passengers using routes 47 and 48 should plan for longer journey times Wednesday morning and early afternoon due to the diversions. The temporary routes add several turns and may encounter different traffic patterns than the regular corridors. Riders can check real-time bus locations and updated arrival times through Moovit, which provides live tracking for NX Bus West Midlands services throughout Birmingham and the surrounding area.
