Hundreds of people have expressed their opinions on massive plans to significantly alter a critical artery route into Birmingham’s city core.

A public consultation is underway on planned alterations to a portion of Hagley Road, which Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) says are intended to make journeys faster, easier, and safer.

The first phase of the project, which would extend from the Five Ways roundabout to the junction of Hagley Road and Portland Road, would include new bus lanes, a separated cycle lane, and modified traffic lights to improve traffic flow.

Hundreds of people have expressed their opinions on massive plans to significantly alter a critical artery route into Birmingham’s city core.

A public consultation is underway on planned alterations to a portion of Hagley Road, which Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) says are intended to make journeys faster, easier, and safer.

The first phase of the project, which would extend from the Five Ways roundabout to the junction of Hagley Road and Portland Road, would include new bus lanes, a separated cycle lane, and modified traffic lights to improve traffic flow.

The consultation concludes on Sunday, but it has already received over 500 comments, with a variety of opinions.

Many people have posted favourable comments, supporting the measures and stating they are long overdue, while detractors feel the cycle lanes will be underutilised and that the modifications would worsen congestion.

One participant stated, “I occasionally cycle on Hagley Rd from Portland Rd to the city centre, but with extreme caution, especially in low light.” “I resort to cycling on the pavement in some places, so a cycle lane will be an absolute godsend.”

Another person stated that a pedestrian crossing at the Plough and Harrow Road intersection is “absolutely essential”.

“I’ve seen kids and parents with kids, literally running across 5 lanes of traffic to cross,” stated one of them. “At the moment, it makes me less likely to use the Metro or the services in Edgbaston Village.

However, one person who is opposed to the proposed alterations stated that the system would only produce “even more congestion.”

Read more on Straightwinfortoday.com