West Midlands Coordinates Overnight Highway Work

Church Lane closes overnight March 20-21 for highway work, diverting bus routes 11A and 11C

Church Lane Closes for Highway Work March 20

Bus riders in Handsworth will need alternate routes overnight Friday as Church Lane closes for highway work. The road will be shut between Grove Lane and Handsworth Wood Road from 8pm March 20 until 5am March 21, transit officials said. Routes 11A and 11C will be diverted during the closure.

Overnight Closure Affects Key Transit Corridor

The closure affects a section of Church Lane that serves as a key corridor for bus services connecting Handsworth to surrounding areas. Highway maintenance work requires the temporary overnight shutdown, according to transit officials. The work is scheduled to be completed by 5am Saturday morning. Overnight road closures allow agencies to perform essential maintenance while minimizing disruption to daytime commuters and businesses along affected routes.

Routes 11A and 11C Follow Detour Paths

Service 11A heading toward Bearwood will take an alternative route via Wellington Road, Handsworth Wood Road, Friary Road, Oxhill Road, and Rookery Road during the closure. Service 11C heading toward Perry Barr will follow the reverse of the 11A diversion route, officials said. The detours will add travel time to both routes, though officials didn't specify how many additional minutes riders should expect. Normal service will resume once the road reopens at 5am Saturday.

Work Completes by Saturday Morning

The highway work is scheduled to wrap up by 5am Saturday, with Church Lane reopening to normal traffic and bus service at that time. Officials said the closure affects only the overnight period from Friday evening through early Saturday morning. The temporary nature of the work means regular weekend service should operate without disruption after 5am.

Riders Should Plan for Detours

Passengers traveling on routes 11A and 11C during the overnight hours Friday should allow extra time for the detours, transit officials said. Riders can check Moovit for real-time updates on bus locations and adjusted arrival times during the diversion. Normal service patterns will resume once Church Lane reopens Saturday morning.