West Midlands Reroutes Five Routes for Highway Work

Five Birmingham bus routes diverted March 24 for four-hour highway maintenance closure

Tile Cross Road Closes March 24 for Highway Work

Five bus routes in Birmingham's Tile Cross area will be diverted Tuesday, March 24, when Tile Cross Road closes for highway work between 11am and 3pm, transit officials said. The closure affects the section between Bell Lane and Cooks Lane, requiring reroutes for routes 14, 17, 17A, 97, and 97A. Officials said riders should expect longer travel times during the four-hour closure period.

Context

The temporary closure is part of scheduled highway maintenance work in the Tile Cross neighborhood, according to the transit agency. Officials said the midday timing was chosen to minimize impact on morning and evening commute periods. Road closures for infrastructure work typically require transit agencies to implement temporary detours that add several minutes to journey times. The affected routes serve residential areas in Tile Cross and connect to Chelmsley Wood and Birmingham city center.

Route Details

Service 14 will be rerouted via St Giles Road, Bell Lane, Station Road, Alcott Lane, Moorend Avenue, Gloucester Way, and Chapelhouse Road in both directions. Services 17 and 17A will divert along The Radleys and Bell Lane when heading from Birmingham, with the reverse route on return journeys. Services 97 and 97A will be rerouted via East Meadway, Cooks Lane, Chelmsley Road, Moorend Avenue, and Pine Square when heading towards Chelmsley Wood, officials said. The return journey for services 97 and 97A will follow the reverse of this diversion route.

Timeline

The road closure and bus diversions will be in effect from approximately 11am to 3pm on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Officials said the work is scheduled to be completed within the four-hour window, allowing services to return to normal routing by mid-afternoon. The agency didn't say whether alternative dates are planned if weather or other factors delay the highway work.

Rider Impact

Passengers are advised to allow extra travel time and check schedules before traveling during the closure period. Some bus stops along the regular route won't be served while diversions are in effect, though officials didn't specify which stops will be temporarily unavailable. Riders can use Moovit for real-time updates on diverted routes and adjusted arrival times during the closure.