West Midlands Upgrades Lighting Along Bus Corridor

Rookery Road closes 9:30am-2:30pm April 6-10 for lighting work, diverting bus routes 11A and 11C

Rookery Road Closes for Lighting Work in April

Riders using bus routes through Handsworth will need to plan alternate travel times or expect detours starting April 6. Rookery Road will close between Oxhill Road and Soho Road from Monday, April 6 through Friday, April 10, 2026, transit officials said. The closure affects the roadway from 9:30am to 2:30pm each day for highway lighting infrastructure work.

Context & Background

The five-day closure represents part of ongoing infrastructure maintenance to upgrade street lighting systems along the corridor. Highway lighting improvements typically involve replacing aging fixtures, upgrading electrical systems, and installing energy-efficient LED technology. Officials said the work requires daytime road closures to ensure worker safety while maintaining access during morning and evening peak travel periods. The partial-day closure schedule allows the roadway to remain open during the busiest commute hours.

Key Details

Two bus routes will operate on detour paths during the closure hours. Service 11A toward Bearwood will divert via Church Lane, Grove Lane, Soho Road, and Boulton Road, officials said. Service 11C toward Perry Barr will follow the reverse routing of the 11A detour. The affected section runs approximately from the Oxhill Road intersection to where Rookery Road meets Soho Road. Officials didn't specify how many stops will be temporarily relocated or how much additional travel time riders should expect on the diverted routes.

Timeline & Implementation

The lighting work begins Monday, April 6, 2026, and continues through Friday, April 10. Each day's closure runs from 9:30am until 2:30pm, with the road reopening for afternoon and evening traffic. Officials said the work is scheduled to be completed within the five-day window, though they haven't announced contingency plans if weather or other factors cause delays.

Rider Impact & Moovit

Passengers traveling through Handsworth during midday hours should expect longer trip times on routes 11A and 11C throughout the work week. Transit officials advised riders to check schedules before traveling during the closure period. Moovit provides real-time bus locations and updated routing information for services 11A and 11C during the Rookery Road detour.