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 2025?

 

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

 

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

 

More information from the Midland Metro Alliance

Birmingham Eastside Extension