Wednesbury to Brierley Hill: work starts next year

[Ginger66]

Work is due to start on 12 October to demolish the bridge in Coneygree Road, Tipton.  The work is expected to take about 6 weeks.  Like the bridge in Sedgley Road West, it will be rebuilt later on during the project.

what is wrong with the bridges, surely they have stood the test of time after the line had closed, 

[Busboy105]

what is wrong with the bridges, surely they have stood the test of time after the line had closed,

They may look ok but there could be issues if trams went on them if they aren't fixed. Otherwise they wouldn't have to demolish them.

[Roy]

Network Rail has stipulated that all structures along the line must be rebuilt or strengthened to heavy rail standards to support the possible reintroduction of freight trains along the line from about 2045 onwards.  When the Jewellery Line between Snow Hill and Smethwick was reopened in 1995, at least three bridges had to be completely rebuilt as they had weakened significantly in the 23 years since the line originally closed.  The line from Round Oak to Wednesbury has been closed for 27 years.  Between Dudley and Wednesbury, at least 4 bridges will need replacement and others will need strengthening.

The biggest structure to be brought up to standard will be Parkhead Viaduct between Dudley and Brierley Hill.  When the line originally opened, the viaduct was a wooden structure.  The current viaduct was built around this, encasing the wooden viaduct inside.  The wood is now warping and causing the brick viaduct to twist and it is thought that the viaduct would collapse within the next 30 years if nothing is done.  The existing brick arches have to be retained as the viaduct is a listed structure.  It will be interesting to see how they achieve this, but the plan is to remove the wood from inside the viaduct and replace it with something more solid.

[Ginger66]

According to British trams online the extension is already behind schedule by six months.   

I think this is partly true due to the current climate, but having looked at the route good 65-80 per cent is on the disused stretch of track, so the delay could be brought under control by working round the clock during the summer months to the best of the lighter days and nights.

[Busboy105]

According to British trams online the extension is already behind schedule by six months.   

I think this is partly true due to the current climate, but having looked at the route good 65-80 per cent is on the disused stretch of track, so the delay could be brought under control by working round the clock during the summer months to the best of the lighter days and nights.

Is that really a good idea? Isn't the track by houses and stuff? There will be a lot of complaints if they were to do this

[Ginger66]

Is that really a good idea? Isn't the track by houses and stuff? There will be a lot of complaints if they were to do this

Agree what you are saying but network rail does maintenance at night on the mainline. example the chase goes behind peoples houses.

Look at westside extension the only reason is they are that far ahead is due to lockdown and working round the clock.

what I mean you could start 6am instead of 8am and work up to instead of 5pm up to 8pm so the construction team are making most of the daylight.

[Roy]

Two more road closures in Tipton are coming up to allow engineers to undertake structural assessments on bridges that pass over the Metro route.  Lower Church Lane will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians from 26 October, followed by Horseley Road.  At present, both bridges are controlled by traffic lights that only allow single line traffic which suggests that, as a minimum, they will need strengthening later on if two-way traffic is to be restored.

[Roy]

Work starts on 8 March to remove the road surface on Castle Hill to enable tracks to be laid.  Castle Hill will be one direction towards Castlegate Island.
https://www.networkwestmidlands.com/plan-your-journey/major-roadworks-and-events/dudley-regeneration/#:~:text=We%20are%20now%20pleased%20to,anticipated%20route%20closer%20to%20fruition.

[DJ]

Work starts on 8 March to remove the road surface on Castle Hill to enable tracks to be laid.  Castle Hill will be one direction towards Castlegate Island.
https://www.networkwestmidlands.com/plan-your-journey/major-roadworks-and-events/dudley-regeneration/#:~:text=We%20are%20now%20pleased%20to,anticipated%20route%20closer%20to%20fruition.

It'll be interesting to see how buses are diverted into Dudley then, if they can't go up Castle Hill. Can they still access Trindle Road heading into Dudley?

[ellspurs]

It'll be interesting to see how buses are diverted into Dudley then, if they can't go up Castle Hill. Can they still access Trindle Road heading into Dudley?

Probably send them down Duncan Edwards Way and up Flood Street, so they come in the back way?

[ellspurs]

Probably send them down Duncan Edwards Way and up Flood Street, so they come in the back way?

Looking on Diamond's website, they've got details of what their buses will be doing: https://www.diamondbuses.com/west-midlands/bus-services/42-dudley/

All buses using Castle Hill out of Dudley will follow their Normal Line of Route, However Services 42 and 229 will divert towards Dudley Bus Station as follows: Castle Hill, Left at traffic lights (Station Hotel), then right into Porters Field (By Taxi Rank).

[karl724223]

Work at merry hill by the canal embankment has now started

[Ginger66]

So Mr Street is now trying to secure funding four extensions, two for this particular line
# Brierley Hill to Storubridge
# Wednesbury to Walsall

[karl724223]

Loads of track laid on the Woodside section

[karl724223]

Car park next to Dudley bus station now fenced off with notices about metro work starting on that site
Also work on flood st car parks well underway
Woodside track and ballast now down