Work to extend the West Midlands Metro from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill has taken another step forward following the demolition of the disused Tame Valley canal bridge.

Back in November 2020 we reported on the removal of the redundant railway the bridge in Coneygree Road, Tipton and the Tame Valley canal bridge is now the fourth in a series of redundant structures to have been removed along the Metro extension line.

The Coneygree Road bridge will be replaced with a new, purpose-built structure later in the construction programme, meeting the needs of a modern light rail network.

The Old Main Line Canal bridge in Tipton will be the last of the canal structures to be cleared as part of the 11km extension scheme with work expected to start on it in February this year.

The Tame Valley canal has been closed to boat and towpath traffic to allow for the recent works to take place but is expected to reopen in the coming weeks.

Work on the construction of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension has continued throughout the pandemic, creating local jobs and aiding the economy during such a challenging time.

It is positive news to see another milestone being hit in the project as the finished scheme will provide increased connectivity for the people of Dudley and Sandwell, as well as investment and regeneration for the borough.

The £450m extension scheme forms part of Transport for West Midlands’ (TfWM) plan to regenerate public transport in the region. Due to open in 2023, the new line will extend the already successful Metro service further into the heart of the Black Country, providing convenient interchanges with local bus and rail services.

When complete, the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill extension will create up to 17 further tram stops, bringing the network total to over 40. It will link Dudley and Brierley Hill directly with the Metro line serving Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and provide fast and frequent services in each direction.

It is predicted that it will act as a trigger for the creation of 2,000 new homes, almost one million sq ft of commercial space and the creation of over 30,000 new jobs.

The completed extension will help to provide a sustainable mode of transport for travel across the entire region and the recent bridge works bring it another step closer to completion.

For more information and to keep up to date with progress on the project visit https://metroalliance.co.uk/projects/wednesbury-to-brierley-hill-extension/.