Sandwell Council will shortly be starting highways improvement work surrounding the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Smethwick.

These much-needed works are the start of a phased approach to the improvement of the highways infrastructure in the area and will have a focus on sustainable forms of travel. The initial works, which will be completed by March 2021, are detailed are below:

• Holly Lane / Manor Road Junction Improvements: The mini roundabout at the junction of Holly Lane and Manor Road will be upgraded to a signalised junction that will improve road safety, create safe pedestrian crossing points and provide cycle advanced stop lines for improved cycle safety.
• Londonderry Lane / Manor Road Junction Improvements: The mini roundabout at the junction of Manor Road and Londonderry Lane will be upgraded to a signalised junction that will improve road safety, create safe pedestrian crossing points and provide cycle advanced stop lines for improved cycle safety.
• Pedestrian crossing facilities at Holly Lane and St Pauls Road: A new signalised junction at Holly Lane and St Pauls Road to incorporate full pedestrian crossing facilities. This will also help with concerns raised previously by Councillors and residents around speed and pedestrian facilities on St Pauls Road. In addition to this, the crossing would have additional benefits of improving pedestrian routes and encourage a modal shift for Holly Lodge High School pupils.
• Bristnall Hall Road Crossing: Install double Zebra crossing with central refuge, widen footway and resurface carriageway as necessary.
• Dog Kennel Lane Crossing: Install double Zebra crossing and resurface carriageway as necessary.

The completion of these highways works will not only improve safe, sustainable travel in the area but will also support access to the new world-class Sandwell Aquatics Centre that is being delivered in the area. Councillor Maria Crompton, deputy leader for Sandwell Council, said:

“In the next six months residents and road users will be seeing highways work taking place in the area surrounding the new Sandwell Aquatics Centre. The works will provide safer and well-connected routes for residents to walk to schools in the nearby area and will generally encourage more walking and cycling as the roads will be safer.

“We want the Sandwell Aquatics Centre project to not only leave a legacy of sporting excellence in Sandwell but also other long-lasting infrastructure improvements, such as these highways works, that will improve the daily lives of our residents.”

Councillor Jackie Taylor, cabinet member for sustainable transport, added: “These much-needed highways improvement works will provide a sustainable transport network for the new aquatics centre – making the centre and surrounding area easily accessible via different modes of transport.”

“We are also adding walking and cycling routes which also means residents can get around safely and with the current position with Covid-19 we have seen an increase of people cycling and walking so it is important that we support this issue where we can.”

The highways improvement works will be done in three phases. Further information on Phases 2 and 3 of these works will be released in due course.