City centre tunnels to be shut for a THIRD set of repairs and maintenance

The Queensway tunnels are set to close again for FURTHER repairs and maintenance – less than a year after major renovation work was said to be completed.

Drivers hoping to travel on the A38 St Chads Queensway through the city centre between 10pm and 6am from Wednesday, April 1 to Friday, May 8 will find the route shut.

On Saturday, May 2 the work will be suspended and tunnels opened temporarily so that the city can prepare for the Great Birmingham 10k run on Sunday, May 3.

Council roads contractor Amey said the fresh closures, so soon after last summer’s extensive works, are necessary to repair damage caused by car accidents and to carry out structural surveys and works linked to the Paradise Circus demolition works.

The firm said its workers will also give the tunnels a ‘spring clean’ and carry out routine maintenance which was previously scheduled to take place later in the year.

Amey’s network manager Eddie Fellows said: “We would like to thank any motorists who use the route overnight for their understanding and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused while we take this opportunity to complete as much work as possible in order to try and minimise the number of future closures.”

The tunnels, which carry traffic through Birmingham City Centre, underwent essential refurbishment works during the summer of 2013 and 2014.

Amey added that the improvements that were carried out and the installation of the very latest technology means that the tunnels now meet the highest European safety standards and management of the route is now more efficient.