DRIVERS and residents in Bromsgrove are being warned there will be temporary full closures on the A38 and New Road in the town.
These closures are scheduled for three consecutive Sundays – November 24, December 1 and December 8 – from 8am to 6pm.
The closures are required for tree removal as part of the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP), a Worcestershire County Council scheme to improve the A38 through the town.
There was controversy when the council announced it was removing some trees along the route to carry out its extension of the A38.
The authority said, due to adjustments made during the tree consultation earlier this year, including the removal of the merge on New Road, further to the tree consultation earlier this year, adjustments had been made meaning the scale of removal tree has been significantly reduced.
Worcestershire County Council said the project was aimed at upgrading key junctions, enhancing pedestrian crossings, and creating better spaces for walking and cycling to ease congestion and ensure smoother, more efficient travel across one of the county’s busiest routes.
The council added the extensive canopy of the trees, which in some areas spanned the width of both carriageways, made it unsafe to carry out removal work while traffic was live. As a result, full road closures are essential to ensure the safety of road users and workers.
The council’s contractor has prepared the site as much as possible under local lane closures to assist reducing the length of these closures.
To minimise disruption, clearly signposted diversion routes will guide motorists around the closure points, alongside highway variable message signs and messaging on the M5 and M42 approaches to Bromsgrove.
Coun Marc Bayliss, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We understand the added pressure on local traffic during the festive season and appreciate that these closures may cause some inconvenience.
“However, we are committed to minimising disruption while ensuring the work is carried out swiftly and efficiently.
“Our goal is to complete these essential improvements with as little impact as possible, supporting both residents and the local economy during this busy time.
“We will make every effort to complete the work ahead of schedule. If we finish early, some of the planned closures may no longer be necessary.”
Worcestershire County Council said work was critical to the overall project timeline. Any delay would impact the scheme’s completion and increase costs.
The decision to remove the trees was reached after a public consultation in July. The trees are not subject to a Tree Preservation Order.
To address environmental concerns, Worcestershire County Council will replace each removed tree with two new ones, planting them as close as possible to their original locations.
The Council has engaged with the local community throughout the planning and development of the A38 BREP. Feedback from residents has been instrumental in shaping the programme, ensuring it considers the community’s needs while addressing the challenges of the area’s transport network.
For more details and the latest updates on the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Project, click here.
