Games traffic management plans revealed
A series of local traffic management plans have been published for communities in the vicinity of venues for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to help residents and businesses plan ahead.
To ensure the smooth running of the Games when more than one million spectators are expected to visit the region, there will be temporary changes to local roads, parking regulations and public transport in Birmingham around:
- Perry Barr - Alexander Stadium
- Sutton Coldfield - Sutton Park
- City Centre - Arena Birmingham, Smithfield
- Southern venue cluster - Edgbaston Cricket Stadium, University of Birmingham (venue and athletes ' village)
The plans show when and where traffic management measures will be in place and what they will mean to those who live or work in those areas.
Every venue is different and has its own bespoke local traffic management plan including where temporary road closures, diversions, parking controls (and access permits), will be required.
The plans are designed to increase safety around venues, allow residents and business to access their properties wherever possible and to encourage spectators to use buses, trains, bikes and official park and ride or park and walk sites.
They have been developed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in partnership with Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police and the Birmingham 2022 organisers, to ensure the region keeps moving and every athlete, official and spectator can arrive at their venue on time.
An area of the Birmingham 2022 website has been set up to act as a single source of information. The online hub will continue to be updated with the latest information in the run up to the Games.
Residents and businesses are able to view the plans and are invited to attend a series of drop-in sessions taking place across the city to 'Get Set for the Games '.
They will vary from up to three weeks for restrictions around the athletes ' village site at the University of Birmingham, to just a single day for road race events like the marathon.
Around 158,000 properties near to Games venues and road race routes in the city will receive a postcard this week encouraging people to go online and attend a public drop-in event in their area.
Traffic management and parking plans for venues and events in Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Cannock Chase, Coventry and Warwickshire are due to be announced in the next few weeks.
As well as traffic measures, TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will later this spring announce details of park and ride facilities, special shuttle buses and the offer of public transport within the region for spectators included with their tickets to further cut car use among visitors.
Public transport operators are also looking at increasing capacity, frequency of service and operating hours, to manage demand during the Games, especially as, for events in the West Midlands, spectators will have access to public transport included within their Games ticket for the local area on the day of their event.
A journey planner will be released later in the year to help people plan their travel during the Games.
Pictured: ACC Matt Ward, West Midlands Police, Birmingham 2022 chief executive Ian Reid, Anne Shaw, executive director TfWM, Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street - launched the Get Set campaing in January
<GetSet for Games line up>