The A457 and Bus Route 87

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Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council are currently developing proposals for improvements for the A457 and Bus Route 87 in Sandwell. The improvements are intended to address issues of congestion for all traffic, and look at specific measures to improve bus travel and improve safety. Buses and other vehicles travelling along the A457 and Route 87 currently suffer from delay at various points in their journey. Other issues along the corridor include the quality of bus stops, difficulties for pedestrians crossing the road, the effect parking and loading has on traffic congestion, and road safety.

This website has been set up as part of Sandwell Council's public consultation into these proposals.

The Consultation Period

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The main Public Consultation on the proposed improvements to the A457 corridor and the Route 87 bus service took place between the start of October and 1st November 2008. Sandwell Council and its partners ran a series of exhibitions and surveys to find out what members of the public thought of the proposals and whether they believed that they would achieve the scheme objectives. Ideas for further ideas for the corridor were also sought. A wide range of materials were prepared and you can find out more about these in The Consultation section of this site.

Since November 2008, analysis of the Consultation responses has been undertaken and this final Consultation was used to Sandwell Council to decide on the way forward for the scheme. A number of significant design changes were made following the Consultation and these can be viewed, alongside the proposals, in The Route section of the website.

What improvements are proposed?

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Within Sandwell the A457 corridor extends from the Sandwell borough boundary in Tipton to Grove Lane Island, Cape Hill. The consultation also included proposals for the Route 87 bus service, which generally follows the A457 corridor, but also travels off the A457 past Tividale Park to Burnt Tree Island and through Smethwick High Street and Cape Hill local shopping area.

Proposals have been prepared for each key section of the route and also for key junctions. Full details of the proposals can be seen in The Route section of the website.

Feedback

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Although the main period of Consultation is now complete, a number of smaller local consultation are on-going and we will also review any views on the ideas put forward. If, once you have read the proposals, you still have questions or queries you can contact us by phone or on-line or by writing. Full details are on the ways you can contact us are available in the Contact section.

Who is involved?

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Sandwell Council are bringing forward the proposals, assisted by AECOM and Jacobs, two of their Transport Consultants. Jacobs, AECOM and Sandwell are working together in partnership as a single design team to deliver this consultation.

In addition to the design team, Centro (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive), Diamond buses and National Express West Midlands are all involved in bringing forward proposals to assist in improving travel along the route.

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