A significant concrete pour has taken place on Castle Hill in Dudley for the eagerly awaited Metro extension last week.
The activity took more than eight hours to complete and with sixloads of concrete, equating to 42m3, used for the pour. It is the second major milestone to be reached for the project in 2022 following the laying of track on one half of the busy thoroughfare earlier in February, signalling a clear sign that the main construction in this area is progressing well.
Midland Metro Alliance (MMA), working on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), began works in Dudley town centre in 2020, firstly upgrading and diverting utilities in the area before beginning visible construction in spring 2021. Continued activity will be present on Castle Hill throughout 2022 as construction switches to the other side of the road later this spring.
Anne Shaw, Executive Director of TfWM, said: “A lot of hard work has been undertaken here in Dudley to help deliver an interchange scheme that the town deserves, and it is fantastic to see the work for the Metro extension moving forward. It is all the more impressive that this activity continues to be safely delivered by the team on site with the challenging circumstances of the pandemic; with so much of the construction activity for this part of the route taking place during lockdowns.”
Balvinder Heran, Deputy Chief Executive for Dudley Council, added: “It is good news for those living in the borough to see progress. Not only will this extension further improve public transport services for those living and working in Dudley, but it also means that residents will be able to travel more easily across the West Midlands.”
The Metro extension in Dudley is part of Transport for West Midlands’ ambitious plans to improve public transport across the region. This Metro extension will boost public transport in the Black Country, providing much-needed links to the existing heavy and light rail networks, and helping connect people to education, training and career opportunities further afield in the West Midlands.
Tom Maplethorpe, MMA Project Director, said: “It was brilliant to celebrate a real-step forward for this project with last week’s concrete pour in Dudley and a similar pour for a structure in Sandwell. The team at both sites continue to work extremely hard to deliver this extension and I am sure that those in both Sandwell and Dudley will be excited to see the continued progress.”
For any further information about the work of the Midland Metro Alliance, please visit the dedicated project page or email [email protected].
Photo credit: WMCA
