The Midland Metro Alliance started work on the Eastside Metro Extension from Bull Street (at Corporation Street) to Digbeth, via the HS2 station site, during July 2021.

Roadworks are taking place on Lower Bull Street, including the Delta Junction at Corporation Street (which has been closed from July to October 2021 for replacing the tracks). They are also doing roadworks in Digbeth and High Street Deritend (near Birmingham Coach Station, the Custard Factory and The Old Crown).

There is plans for four new tram stops at Albert Street, HS2 Interchange, Meriden Street and Digbeth High Street. This new extension for West Midlands Metro could be opened by 2027 or 2029 at the latest.

 

Lower Bull Street

All bus routes that used lower Bull Street were moved to other bus stops, with the closure of lower Bull Street by the Midland Metro Alliance from June 2021.

 

14th June 2021

Lower Bull Street from High Street near Dale End. Bus routes for Perry Barr and Walsall had their bus stops moved to Carrs Lane. Other bus routes were rerouted and moved as well.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

25th July 2021

The original extension closed from the lower half of Upper Bull Street (Bull Street Tram Stop is now the temporary terminus again), down Corporation Street and Stephenson Street (all trams stops to Library are closed). Tracks being relayed for 11 weeks, with a target date of October 2021, while the Midland Metro Alliance build a Delta Junction at lower Bull Street.

Delta Junction site from upper Bull Street (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

16th August 2021

Mobile crane at the Delta Junction site near lower Bull Street. Track relaying on Corporation Street is 3 weeks in, with 8 weeks to go.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (August 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

10th July 2022

Midland Metro Alliance continue to do finishing touches around Corporation Street, while they tarmac over lower Bull Street ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Delta Junction from Corporation Street (July 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

5th August 2022

The Midland Metro Alliance tidied up lower Bull Street ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and reopened it (temporarily). Work will probably resume here after the end of the games.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (August 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

23rd November 2022

The Dale End taxi rank has been moved, as Midland Metro Alliance will be demolishing King's Parade. Meanwhile a concrete pour on lower Bull Street, before they lay tracks from the junction with Corporation Street.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (November 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

27th January 2023

Tracks now stretch down lower Bull Street from the delta junction with Corporation Street.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (January 2023). Photography by Jonathan Bostock

 

3rd February 2023

View of the double tracks on lower Bull Street from Martineau Place. The Delta Junction is to the left, as a West Midlands Metro tram turns from upper Bull Street onto Corporation Street.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (February 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

30th March 2023

Concrete pour over the tracks to the top of lower Bull Street, near the Delta Junction, as seen from Martineau Place.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (March 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

1st April 2023

View from the tram of the Delta Junction from Corporation Street. The tram going to upper Bull Street. This is the view to lower Bull Street.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (April 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

28th June 2023

The tracks on lower Bull Street now have a tarmaced road surface. The bit at the bottom near Dale End is being dug up. Kings Parade is fully demolished now.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (June 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

17th July 2023

Tracks have been laid bottom end of lower Bull Street. Will soon be topped up with tarmac, as the road will reopen to buses on the 23rd July 2023.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (July 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

23rd July 2023

Lower Bull Street is now reopen to buses heading to Perry Barr and Walsall. Bus Gate at Dale End. Bus stops on High Street re-located to Corporation Street (towards Old Square).

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (July 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

21st September 2023

It has been a couple of months since buses to Perry Barr and Walsall returned to lower Bull Street. This view from the front of a tram, waiting to turn onto Corporation Street from upper Bull Street.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (September 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

1st October 2023

The road surface on Dale End near lower Bull Street has been opened, while the bit formerly used by buses until recently has been hoarded off near the Kings Parade demolition site.

Eastside Metro Extension on lower Bull Street (October 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Dale End / Albert Street

Demolition of Kings Parade started in late 2022, where McDonald's used to be.

27th January 2023

Buses passing the demolition of Kings Parade on Dale End, before turning onto Albert Street.

Eastside Metro Extension on Dale End(January 2023). Photography by Jonathan Bostock

 

Kings Parade fully wrapped in scaffolding from Albert Street. Buses turn here to head to Moor Street Queensway, and out towards Digbeth.

Eastside Metro Extension on Albert Street (January 2023). Photography by Jonathan Bostock

 

Demolition of Kings Parade is visible from New Meeting Street. The building dates to the early 1990s, so has lasted only 30 years.

Eastside Metro Extension on New Meeting Street (January 2023). Photography by Jonathan Bostock

 

25th February 2023

View of the Kings Parade demolition from the bus waiting to depart on Moor Street Queensway.

Kings Parade demolition for the Eastside Metro Extension  (February 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

21st July 2023

Kings Parade at Dale End is now fully demolished. Once Lower Bull Street reopens to buses on the 23rd July 2023, Midland Metro Alliance will move to work on this site (after demolition rubble is cleared of course).

Kings Parade demolition for the Eastside Metro Extension  (July 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Digbeth

In Digbeth, the Midland Metro Alliance have been removing the old central reservation, between Meriden Street and The Old Crown. Traffic has still been using the parts of the road that is open. Various junctions to side roads have been closed.

17th April 2021

Preparatory work on High Street Deritend outside of Devonshire House, home of Zellig and the Custard Factory.

Eastside Metro Extension near the Custard Factory (April 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

10th May 2021

The preparatory roadworks continued in Digbeth during May 2021, the main works wouldn't start until July.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (May 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

13th June 2021

The pavements outside of the Custard Factory and Connaught Square get dug up to move pipes about a month before the main works begins. The central reservation hadn't been touched, apart from in minor sections at this point.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth near the Custard Factory (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

8th July 2021

The side road from Digbeth to Moat Lane was reopened for the first time in years, while the side roads to Rea Street, Alcester Street, etc were closed. This meant certain bus routes, such as the 50 had to be diverted via Upper Dean Street, Pershore Street and Barford Street.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

16th August 2021

Most of the central reservation was knocked down during July and August 2021. On Monday 16th August 2021, the Midland Metro Alliance closed the southbound lanes of Digbeth and High Street Deritend, moving the southbound traffic to a former northbound lane close to Birmingham Coach Station. The traffic eventually switches back after The Old Crown.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (August 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

29th January 2022

Not so much an update, other than the skyline in Digbeth. Beyond here is the start of the roadworks near The Rainbow pub. Traffic continues to be one lane in each direction. Sometimes the traffic gets held up. They seem to be filling up part of the under road surface along the route here. They will tidy it up in time for the Commonwealth Games.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (January 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

13th March 2022

No St Patrick's Day Parade for the third year running, but this time it's the Eastside Metro extension roadworks to blame. But the St Patrick's Festival is on, and the Midland Metro Alliance have put up these banners along the route.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (March 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

3rd April 2022

Birmingham City FC fans march through Digbeth past the Eastside Metro extension roadworks from The Bull Ring Tavern to St Andrew's on the day of the derby match with West Bromwich Albion. In memory of the late Barrington Patterson aka One Eyed Baz, who died in March 2022 of a suspected heart attack. Buses held up in traffic.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (April 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

26th May 2022

Work is well underway to demolish the old SteamHouse building, used by Birmingham City University from 2018 to 2021.

Demolition of the BCU Steam House - Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (May 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

28th May 2022

The Midland Metro Alliance have been re-tarmacing the road surface on the southbound road towards Camp Hill. They have also installed new curb stones, and have been widening the pavements.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (May 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

3rd August 2022

Green mesh along the fences in Digbeth. But the works seem behind, as they are still doing the paving, a week after the Commonwealth Games began. Some new paving has been opened such as outside of The Old Crown. Still a mess.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (August 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

22nd August 2022

The southbound lane is closed in Digbeth, and buses are diverting down Bradford Street towards Camp Hill. But northbound buses are still able to use the Digbeth High Street heading to the City Centre. This diversion should last until the end of October 2022.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (August 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

5th September 2022

First signs of tram tracks installed in Digbeth from the Meriden Street junction. Curving towards Birmingham Coach Station. Southbound buses still on diversion via Bradford Street.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (September 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

17th September 2022

Heavy traffic heading out of the City from Moor Street Queensway to Digbeth on a Saturday evening, took around half an hour to get through. Progress of the section of tram tracks installed in Digbeth. Doing it now, so they don't have to do it later when they put the road surface back on it.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (September 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

15th October 2022

If you want to do a Digbeth walk towards the Custard Factory, you still have to get off the bus on Bradford Street. Then find a crossing on the High Street. Midland Metro Alliance workers were out on the Saturday. Most but not all bus routes are still being diverted by Bradford Street. Heath Mill Lane has been closed since August. Paving outside The Old Crown has been complete for a while now, but they want to know when the road will go back to normal.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (October 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

25th October 2022

Midland Metro Alliance workers have now laid a tarmaced road surface at the top of Digbeth near Birmingham Coach Station, over the pair of tracks laid from the end of Meriden Street. Buses continue to be diverted via Bradford Street.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (October 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

29th October 2022

Road markings have now been painted. It looks like a single lane in each direction for traffic. Should open in early November 2022. The far right lane should close to allow the works to lay tram tracks there.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (October 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

5th November 2022

The southbound lane through Digbeth was reopened in early November 2022, after being closed since the summer of 2021. The Meriden Street junction is still closed, but buses and cars can now go over part of the laid tracks. City bound buses from Stratford Road and Warwick Road continue to use Bradford Street, while Coventry Road buses are using the Digbeth High Street.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (November 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

6th November 2022

Northbound buses from the Stratford Road and Warwick Road are once again using High Street Bordesley and High Street Deritend, as the southbound lane towards Camp Hill has been open for a couple of days. Milk Street near South & City College Birmigham (Digbeth Campus) is open again.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (November 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

23rd November 2022

It has been almost a month since the southbound carriageway to Camp Hill has been reopened in Digbeth to buses and other traffic. Still works going on either side of the reopened road.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (November 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

27th November 2022

Digbeth now has birectional travel on the new road surfaces, while the old northbound lane has been closed to traffic.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (November 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

14th February 2023

The view from the no 50 bus in Digbeth, which is on a minor diversion to Bradford Street, as Rea Street near Birmingham Coach Station is closed as they dig up the right hand side of the road.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (February 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

22nd May 2023

Pair of tram tracks laid outside of the Bull Ring Trading Estate on High Street Deritend. Cross over tracks. The Digbeth Tram Stop, will be outside of Birmingham Coach Station.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (May 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

9th June 2023

There is now overhead cable columns being installed along High Street Deritend in Digbeth, as far as the tracks next to the Bull Ring Trading Estate site.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (June 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

13th July 2023

More tracks being laid in Digbeth outside of Bull Ring Trading Estate. This will beyond the terminus that will be built near Birmingham Coach Station.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (July 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

15th August 2023

The road from Digbeth to Moat Lane is closed so buses now diverted on Bradford Street or Alcester Street again. Bull Ring Trading Estate next to the tracks being installed has been fully demolished.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (August 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

1st October 2023

You can see the sections of tracks either side of the former Irish Centre, as zoomed down from the Rotunda balcony on the 20th floor.

Eastside Metro Extension in Digbeth (October 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

More information from the Midland Metro Alliance

Birmingham Eastside Extension