Fears HS2 could heap extra traffic on Chester Road

CONCERNS have been raised that the Chester Road could be flooded with construction traffic when work starts on the HS2 rail link.
There have been complaints about congestion at several points along one of North Solihull’s busiest routes.
And Meriden’s MP, Dame Caroline Spelman, is worried that a further increase in vehicles may make matters worse.
She has suggested it might be more appropriate for the lorries to make greater use of the Collector Road instead.
Pointing out that the dual carriageway had been built to ease traffic on the M6, she believed it could have key role to play.
“The Chester Road is very, very busy, very congested,” she told HS2 officials at a recent meeting.
“[It] has had some pedestrianisation, which means it has actually been narrowed to slow the traffic. “And in the rush hour it becomes very congested. It’s a ribbon development, so you’ve got residential [homes] close to the highway along the entire length of it.
“Traffic can be stationary at times and I wondered if any more thought had been given to getting the traffic off onto the Collector Road.”
Jonathan Lord, HS2’s senior area engagement manager, said that the company would look at the issues and report back.
With construction due to start in earnest in the coming months, fears that the project could cause great disruption on local roads have grown.
It has already been reported that one route in the Balsall Common area will be used by up to 400 vehicles a day.