Tarmac complete safe dismantling of Birmingham flyover

Fifty-year-old structure successfully removed as part of A34 Perry Barr highways improvement scheme

TARMAC have successfully completed the dismantling of the Perry Barr flyover in north Birmingham, marking a major milestone in the A34 Perry Barr highways improvement scheme.

Well over a year in the planning, the 50-year-old flyover was safely removed in just a single weekend to make way for an improved road layout that will incorporate a new dual carriageway, cycle paths and improved public transport services.

Working alongside specialist subcontractors S Evans & Sons Demolition, Tarmac deployed seven excavators to remove the flyover – four of which were among the largest machines of their type being used on the UK road network. More than 300 lorry loads of demolished materials were removed from the site, with all of the waste steel and concrete set to be recycled. 

With strict timings and one weekend allocated for the dismantling work, careful coordination of traffic management was critical to the successful completion of the job. The Tarmac team also helped to further minimize disruption for the public by removing the flyover abutments and spans in one go.

Andy Brown, director of Tarmac’s Infrastructure business, commented: ‘The dismantling of the A34 flyover is a critical milestone in the long-term regeneration of Perry Barr. 

‘To have successfully and safely completed this phase of works ahead of schedule and under a tight programme is a testament to the dedication, skill, and expertise of our team. We are extremely proud of the work undertaken and were able to open the road an hour and a half ahead of schedule.’ 

Waseem Zaffar, Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for transport and environment, added: ‘It’s a great credit to all involved that such a complex operation was carried out safely, speedily and with minimum disruption. We are now able to turn our attention to completing the new road layout, which will provide better access to public transport and improved facilities for walking and cycling in Perry Barr.’

The wider programme of Perry Barr highway improvement works is set to be completed at the end of the year and will see local roads remodelled and redesigned to make the area more accessible by sustainable forms of transport, including a new Sprint bus priority corridor.

The highway scheme forms part of a £500 million regeneration project to transform Perry Barr and surrounding areas.

*Picture courtesy of www.radarfilm.co.uk