West Midlands Reroutes X20 During Highway Works
Service X20 will detour via Harborne Lane and Bristol Road during highway work closure
Selly Oak X20 Bus Route Diverts March 11
Bus riders in Birmingham's Selly Oak area will face a temporary route change on Service X20 due to a road closure, NX Bus West Midlands said. Gibbins Road between Harborne Lane and Weoley Park Road will close Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 8am to 1:30pm for highway works. The closure affects the morning commute and early afternoon travel period.
Background
The temporary closure is part of scheduled highway maintenance work in the Selly Oak district, transit officials said. Road closures for infrastructure work typically require transit agencies to implement detour routes that maintain service while avoiding construction zones. Officials didn't specify what type of highway work necessitates the closure or whether it's part of a larger maintenance program in the area. Transit agencies in the West Midlands regularly coordinate with local authorities to minimize service disruptions during planned road work.
Route Details
Buses heading toward Bromsgrove will detour via Harborne Lane, Bristol Road, and Weoley Park Road to bypass the closed section, according to NX Bus West Midlands. Buses traveling toward Birmingham will follow the reverse route. The diversion allows buses to rejoin their normal route after the Gibbins Road junction. Officials said the detour is designed to minimize delays, though they didn't provide estimates for how much additional travel time riders should expect.
Timeline
The closure takes effect at 8am Wednesday, March 11, 2026, and ends at 1:30pm the same day. Service X20 will return to its normal route immediately after the closure ends at 1:30pm. Officials didn't say whether the work could extend beyond the scheduled timeframe if weather or other factors cause delays.
Rider Impact
Passengers should allow extra travel time during the five-and-a-half-hour closure period, transit officials said. The temporary nature of the closure means regular service patterns resume by mid-afternoon. Riders can check real-time bus locations and updated arrival times through Moovit, which provides live tracking for Service X20 and other West Midlands routes during service changes.
