Major Road Transformation Planned for Birmingham's Knowledge Quarter
Birmingham City Council has unveiled ambitious plans to completely transform several key roads within the city's important Knowledge Quarter area. The Labour-run authority is currently proposing two significant transport projects that aim to reshape how people move through this vital investment zone.
The James Watt Queensway 'Super Crossing' Project
At the heart of the proposals is the James Watt Queensway 'Super Crossing' project, which specifically targets improvements to walking, wheeling, cycling, and public transport connectivity into the Knowledge Quarter and Aston University campus. Council officials emphasize that this initiative will dramatically enhance safety while creating a more welcoming environment for all users.
The council plans to achieve these improvements through several key measures:
- Reducing the road width at the crossing point by removing three lanes to create a shorter, safer crossing experience
- Realigning the existing crossing with a parallel cycle crossing that connects to the established A34 route
- Future-proofing provisions for proposed cycle route extensions along James Watt Queensway and Moor Street Queensway
- Enhancing the streetscape with high-quality materials and strategic planting
These changes aim to reduce conflicts at the crossing while making movements clearer and safer for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
Cardigan Street Traffic Reduction Initiative
The second project focuses on Cardigan Street with ambitious goals to reduce motorized traffic passing through Birmingham's Knowledge Quarter while simultaneously improving both safety and connectivity. The council wants to create a street environment that feels more pleasant, welcoming, and suitable for all users through comprehensive changes.
Key proposals for Cardigan Street include:
- Implementing a two-way bus gate between the access to Millennium Point car park and Gopsal Street
- Creating one-way segregated cycle tracks in each direction
- Adding new bus shelters along Cardigan Street alongside planting new trees
- Removing and rearranging some pay and display parking bays to accommodate wider pavements outside the busy Aston University Sports Centre on Woodcock Street
- Installing a new traffic signal-controlled crossing on a raised table on Lister Street
- Making permanent the modal filter at the Holt Street junction with Lister Street
Council's Vision for Sustainable Transport
The council has been clear about the broader context for these changes, stating that it cannot effectively tackle the climate emergency without fundamental changes to how people and goods move around Birmingham. Their transport plan emphasizes the need to work with partners to secure investment and make Birmingham a place where walking, cycling, and using public transport become the best and preferred modes of travel for most residents.
"We need to fundamentally change our travel habits and reduce the overall amount we travel by car," the council's statement reads. "Over-dependence on private cars is bad for our health, the health of our families, bad for our communities and bad for business, as measured by the millions of pounds of lost productivity caused by congestion every year."
Next Steps and Public Consultation
Following the consultation period, which closes on March 1, the council will review all responses and make any necessary changes to the plans. Should the decision be made to proceed with the schemes, the proposals will be implemented under Traffic Regulation Orders, which are the legal documents required to make changes on public roads.
The council encourages public participation in shaping these transformative projects that could significantly alter how people experience and move through Birmingham's Knowledge Quarter for years to come.
