Work began on Monday 17 August to Segment D of the project, in the area outside Ratcliffe House near the Poplar Road/Warwick Road junction in Solihull town centre.

This is Segment D of the Project, and has seen the creation of a bus and cycle-only lane connecting Lode Lane with the existing no-through road between Ratcliffe House and Brueton Gardens.

Segment A

Segment A commenced on site on Monday 21 September. Works initially started at the Rowood Drive end of the scheme before moving back to Dovehouse Lane and the exit to Jaguar Land Rover.

This work will continue with the installation of a bus lane which was previously began on the canal bridge. The creation of an unsegregated shared-use footway heading into the town centre, will also be continued.

The existing pelican crossing near to Henley Crescent will be upgraded with new technology.

Work has also begun to construct a new service road access near Rowood Drive. The existing service road access adjacent to number 238 Lode Lane will be stopped up and a new access constructed adjacent to number 230 Lode Lane. This Segment is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Segment C

This week (commencing 19 October) the Council's contractor Balfour Beatty will begin work at the front of the Solihull Hospital site as part of Segment C. 

This is one of the most important elements of the scheme with the a proposed section of bus lane running past Solihull Hospital (from Keresley Close to Poplar Road). This is where congestion is at its worst on Lode Lane but where there is limited space available. 

The work, which is expected to take place from October 2015 to February 2016, will see the removal of the existing footpath to create the new bus lane. A wider footpath will then be created out of a strip of land on the boundary of the hospital site. Ease of access for vehicles turning into the hospital will also be improved. 

Solihull Hospital has been working closely with Solihull Council and Balfour Beatty to ensure that disruption to visitors and staff is kept to a minimum while the works are being carried out. As part of the works it will be necessary to temporarily relocate the bus stop outside of the hospital 30 yards nearer the town centre. It will be reinstated as part of the permanent works.

Pedestrian access and visitor parking will be maintained at all times and any diversion routes will be signposted. A number of disabled parking spaces in the area of works have needed to be relocated within the site, but the number of parking spaces available for visitors will remain the same.