West Midlands Coordinates Detours for Road Work
Five Birmingham bus routes detour nightly March 30-April 1 for Coventry Road resurfacing
Birmingham Bus Routes Detour for Road Work
Five Birmingham bus routes will detour around Coventry Road starting Monday as highway crews resurface the roadway between Camp Hill and Bordesley Circus. NX Bus West Midlands announced the temporary closure will run from Monday, March 30 through Wednesday, April 1, affecting routes 17, 17A, 60, X1, and X2 between 7pm and 5am nightly. The work requires complete closure of the Coventry Road section to allow resurfacing equipment to operate safely during overnight hours.
Context & Background
The nighttime closure schedule allows highway maintenance crews to complete resurfacing work while minimizing disruption to daytime traffic and transit operations. Transit agencies typically coordinate with municipal road departments to schedule bus detours around planned infrastructure projects, particularly when work requires full road closures. The Coventry Road corridor serves as a key route for multiple bus lines connecting Birmingham's city center with eastern neighborhoods including Bordesley and Small Heath. Officials said the resurfacing work is part of ongoing highway maintenance efforts to preserve road conditions and extend pavement life.
Key Details
Routes 17, 17A, and 60 heading toward Birmingham will detour via Bordesley Circus, Bordesley Middleway, Camp Hill Circus, and Camp Hill before rejoining their regular routes, NX Bus West Midlands said. The same routes traveling from Birmingham will follow the reverse path. Routes X1 and X2 toward Birmingham will divert from Small Heath Highway via Bordesley Circus, Bordesley Middleway, Camp Hill Circus, and Camp Hill, with return trips following the reverse route. All five routes will operate on their standard schedules despite the detours, though officials haven't said whether travel times will increase during the closure period.
Timeline & Implementation
The detours take effect Monday, March 30 at 7pm and will remain in place each night through Wednesday, April 1 until 5am, when Coventry Road reopens to regular traffic. The three-night closure window gives crews time to complete resurfacing work on the Camp Hill to Bordesley Circus section. NX Bus West Midlands said normal routing will resume each morning at 5am, with no daytime service changes expected during the project.
Rider Impact & Moovit
Riders using the affected routes during evening and overnight hours should expect different stop locations along the detour path, though the transit agency hasn't specified which regular stops will be temporarily unavailable. Passengers traveling during the 7pm to 5am closure window can check current route information and real-time bus locations through Moovit, which provides updates for NX Bus West Midlands services throughout Birmingham. Officials advised riders to allow extra time for trips during the three-night construction period.
