Short Term A38 road closure scheduled for key infrastructure improvements

These closures are scheduled for three consecutive Sundays, 24 November, 1 December, and 8 December, from 8:00am to 6:00pm.

The closures are required for tree removal as part of the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP), a Worcestershire County Council initiative to improve the A38 through the town.

By upgrading key junctions, enhancing pedestrian crossings, and creating better spaces for walking and cycling, the project aims to ease congestion, and ensure smoother, more efficient travel across one of Worcestershire’s busiest routes.

The extensive canopy of the trees, which in some areas spans the width of both carriageways, makes it unsafe to carry out removal work while traffic is 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.

Thanks 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 have been made meaning the scale of removal tree has been significantly reduced.

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.

Councillor 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.”

This work is 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, the 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, please visit the Phase 3 of A38 BREP improvements pages.