West Midlands Reroutes Route 49 for Road Work
Birmingham Route 49 buses detour through six streets for overnight road resurfacing work
Kings Norton Route 49 Reroutes for Road Work
Riders on Birmingham's Route 49 will need to plan alternate travel times as the bus diverts around overnight road construction in Kings Norton. Rednal Road will close between Redhill Road and The Green from March 24-29 for highway resurfacing, transit officials said. The closure affects service between 7pm and 5am each night, forcing buses onto a lengthy detour through surrounding neighborhoods.
Week-Long Overnight Closure Impacts Service
The resurfacing project runs Tuesday through Sunday nights, with work crews taking over the road corridor during off-peak hours. Transit agencies typically schedule infrastructure work during overnight periods to minimize daytime disruption, though the approach still affects evening and early-morning riders. The closure spans a key section of Rednal Road that Route 49 normally uses to connect communities between Rubery and Solihull. Officials didn't specify whether the work is part of a broader road maintenance program or addresses specific pavement deterioration on this stretch.
Buses Take Six-Street Detour Route
Solihull-bound buses will detour via Cofton Road, Cropredy Road, Clunbury Road, Turves Green, Staple Lodge Road, and Wychall Lane during the closure period. Rubery-bound service will follow the same streets in reverse order. The diversion adds multiple turns and neighborhood streets to what's normally a more direct route along Rednal Road. Officials didn't release estimated travel time increases or specify which stops along the normal route will be temporarily unavailable during overnight hours.
Service Returns After Construction Ends
Route 49 will resume its normal path once resurfacing work wraps up early morning March 30. Transit officials said the diversion is necessary to allow construction crews safe access to complete the pavement work. The agency didn't indicate whether weather delays could extend the project timeline or if any weekend daytime work is planned that might affect service outside the 7pm-5am window.
Riders Should Check Schedules During Work Period
Passengers traveling during overnight hours should expect longer trip times and potential schedule adjustments throughout the construction week. Officials advised riders to plan journeys accordingly and allow extra travel time. Moovit provides real-time bus locations and updated Route 49 schedules during the detour period, helping riders track service along the temporary routing.
