Road closures and traffic disruptions for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer

Details of traffic arrangements around key Commonwealth Games venues, including road closures, one-way systems and controlled parking zones, have been released. Maps showing temporary plans for venues such as the Alexander Stadium are now available on the Birmingham 2022 website.

The event will run from July 28 to August 8 – and is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the region and the UK in 2022 and beyond. Plans are available at www.birmingham2022.com/getset and organizers will also be holding walk-in sessions for residents and businesses “over the next few months.”

So far details are only available for Birmingham with more information for venues Cannock Chase, Coventry, Dudley, Lee Valley Velopark, Sandwell, Solihull, South Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Wolverhampton to be released in due course. Anne Shaw, executive director of Transport for West Midlands, said: “Our plans are designed to make it as easy as possible for spectators to leave the car at home and use public transport to get to events.

READ MORE:Commonwealth Games 2022: All hockey teams and full schedule announced

“This, along with the traffic management and parking plans announced today, ensure that residents and businesses near the venues will be able to access their properties and will help manage congestion on the wider network for regular commuters. , deliveries and emergency services going about their daily business. business. There will inevitably be some disruption at certain busy times, but these plans have been carefully designed to keep this to a minimum. Ensuring our region can keep moving when one million visitors arrive this summer will be key to the success of the Commonwealth Games.

“This is the biggest and most prestigious event ever to be held in the West Midlands and there will be a range of things in our normal daily routines which will need to temporarily change. This is the case with all these multi-sport events majors, so I would recommend people start planning ahead and check out the information as soon as it becomes available on the Get Set website.

Here, we take a look at some of the changes residents can expect to road layouts during the Games.

Alexander Stadium

Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr is the main venue for the Games and the surrounding area will see a number of changes during the event. Aldridge Road and Church Road will be closed northbound to all unlicensed drivers – open to residents living in an eligible postcode – operating from July 22 to August 10.

Permit applications will open in May and Birmingham City Council will write to eligible households and businesses in advance. Birmingham 2022 said walking and cycling will still be unlimited on “most roads giving free access to the area”. The site says Beeches Road and Stanford Avenue will have a no stopping rule and a total of 38 roads around the stadium, including A34 Walsall Road, will have controlled parking measures in place.

Utilita Arena Birmingham

Utilita Arena Birmingham in Birmingham city center is where artistic and rhythmic gymnastics will take place from July 29 to August 6. Special arrangements include the complete closure of King Edwards Road outside the arena from July 26 to August 7, while Civic Close, Cambridge Street and Kingston Row will become authorized access only. Residential roads between Ladywood Middleway and Summer Hill Road will have controlled parking in place, and there will be no stopping at Cambridge Street, Summer Hill Street and St Vincent Street.

Edgbaston Stadium

The area around Edgbaston Cricket Ground – which will host T20 women’s cricket from July 29 to August 8 – and Cannon Hill Park will be affected during the Games. Edgbaston Road – directly outside the stadium – will be closed from July 28 to August 8 and no stops will be enforced on a number of roads surrounding the venue, including Pershore Road. A portion of Edgbaston Road to the east will become open to permit holders only and a network of residential roads will be subject to controlled parking programs.

Smithfield

The central Smithfield site will house beach volleyball, basketball and wheelchair basketball as well as the starting point for the marathon. Upper Digbeth High Street will now only stop for taxis, while Sherlock Street and Moat Lane will now only stop for buses. A portion of Pershore Street and Claybrook Street will become accessible only by permit. All of these changes will be in place from July 28 to August 8.

Sutton Park

Sutton Park will be the site of the triathlon and para triathlon between July 29 and August 31 and will see a number of roads south of the park closed. These include part of Jockey Road and Halton Road and adjacent roads in the area. The triathlon route has also been laid out – passing through Stonehouse Road and Monmouth Drive.

University of Birmingham

The university will host part of the event’s athletes’ village from July 22 to August 11 as well as hockey and squash from July 28 to August 8. A number of residential roads south of the A38 will become controlled parking zones while part of Edgbaston Park Road south of Pritchatts Road will become permit only.

READ MORE:Commonwealth Games 2022: all venues listed

Click here for the latest political news from the West Midlands

Get the latest political news straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.