Black Country Route
Encyclopedia
The Black Country Route is a road in the West Midlands region
of England.
The plans for a motorway were drawn up in 1962 to ease congestion in the Black Country
towns of Bilston
and Willenhall
, as well as giving the residents of Dudley
, Coseley
and Sedgley
a more direct link with the M6 motorway
. The route was due for completion by 1976, however financial difficulties which included problems with funding resulted in the plans being shelved.
However, the Black Country Route project was revived in the early 1980s, since the congestion in the surrounding area was gradually worsening. The first phase - between the Birmingham New Road and Bilston town centre - was opened in 1986, passing over land previously occupied by a giant steelworks. The new road opened previously inaccessible land for commercial use, and B&Q
soon opened a store on the route.
At points along the Black Country Route large sculptures can be seen. Some are very large and located in the roundabouts. An example of one of the smaller well-hidden ones is the group of wooden statues designed by Robert Koenig
called "Steel Columns." "This sculpture was made from 15 lengths of sweet chestnut
which stretch up to 6 metres in height. The male and female figures depicted are based on those found in old Victorian
photographs of Bilston
. The title "Steel Columns" is a reference to Bilston’s steel making background and the connection the figures had with this history."
An example of a larger work is the tapering steel column designed by Eillis O’Connel called "Tower of Light". It "is a futuristic design which comprises a spectacular tower of stainless steel mesh, interwoven with fibre optic cables that light at night and a translucent blue resin casting at the apex."
.
The next phase was opened in February 1995, between Oxford Street and Hare Street, followed by the link between The Keyway south of Willenhall
and Junction 10 of the M6 motorway on the border of Willenhall and Walsall. The completion of an overbridge crossing Darlaston Lane in July 1995 saw the full route opened by European Commissioner
and former Labour Party
leader Neil Kinnock
.
Its completion coincided with the completion of another substantial road project - the Black Country New Road
- which linked Bilston with West Bromwich
.
The building of the route is criticised for reaching maximum vehicle capacity within weeks of opening, especially in the area East bound towards junction 10 of the M6 motorway, which has severe tailbacking in rush hour periods. Due to financial cut backs over the intervening years of planning, the route was downgraded with surface level roundabouts around the town of Bilston, thus hardly alleviating any of the traffic congestion that the split level junctions were designed to help avoid. Traffic signal systems were installed for one Bilston roundabout with more planned due to the overwhelming traffic around the town, thus adding to the congestion problems that are particularly problematic at rush hours.
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
of England.
The plans for a motorway were drawn up in 1962 to ease congestion in the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
towns of Bilston
Bilston
Bilston is a town in the English county of West Midlands, situated in the southeastern corner of the City of Wolverhampton. Three wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North, which almost entirely comprise parts of the historic Borough of Bilston, and...
and Willenhall
Willenhall
Willenhall is a town in the Black Country area of the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire...
, as well as giving the residents of Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
, Coseley
Coseley
Coseley is a town located mostly within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands. Part of the Black Country, it lies south east of Wolverhampton and north of Dudley....
and Sedgley
Sedgley
Sedgley is an urban village within the West Midlands county of England. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Sedgley was formerly an ancient manor composed of several smaller villages, including Gornal, Gospel End, Woodsetton, Ettingshall, Coseley and Brierley...
a more direct link with the M6 motorway
M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
. The route was due for completion by 1976, however financial difficulties which included problems with funding resulted in the plans being shelved.
However, the Black Country Route project was revived in the early 1980s, since the congestion in the surrounding area was gradually worsening. The first phase - between the Birmingham New Road and Bilston town centre - was opened in 1986, passing over land previously occupied by a giant steelworks. The new road opened previously inaccessible land for commercial use, and B&Q
B&Q
B&Q plc is a multinational DIY and home improvement retailer headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1969 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingfisher plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
soon opened a store on the route.
Sculptures en route
Robert Koenig (sculptor)
Robert Koenig is an English sculptor, who specialises in wood sculpture and is a prominent exponent of the art of woodcarving using the traditional tools of mallet and chisel.-Early life:...
called "Steel Columns." "This sculpture was made from 15 lengths of sweet chestnut
Sweet Chestnut
Castanea sativa is a species of the flowering plant family Fagaceae, the tree and its edible seeds are referred to by several common names such Sweet Chestnut or Marron. Originally native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, it is now widely dispersed throughout Europe and parts of Asia, such as...
which stretch up to 6 metres in height. The male and female figures depicted are based on those found in old Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
photographs of Bilston
Bilston
Bilston is a town in the English county of West Midlands, situated in the southeastern corner of the City of Wolverhampton. Three wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North, which almost entirely comprise parts of the historic Borough of Bilston, and...
. The title "Steel Columns" is a reference to Bilston’s steel making background and the connection the figures had with this history."
Route completion
The second phase of the road was completed in 1990, cutting through Bilston town centre and linking up with the A41A41 road
The A41 is a formerly-major trunk road in England that links London and Birkenhead, although it has now largely been superseded by motorways. It passes through or near various towns and cities including Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury, Solihull, Birmingham, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton,...
.
The next phase was opened in February 1995, between Oxford Street and Hare Street, followed by the link between The Keyway south of Willenhall
Willenhall
Willenhall is a town in the Black Country area of the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire...
and Junction 10 of the M6 motorway on the border of Willenhall and Walsall. The completion of an overbridge crossing Darlaston Lane in July 1995 saw the full route opened by European Commissioner
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
and former Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
leader Neil Kinnock
Neil Kinnock
Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
.
Its completion coincided with the completion of another substantial road project - the Black Country New Road
Black Country New Road
The Black Country New Road is a major road which runs through the West Midlands of England.The first phases of the route were completed in July 1995, beginning with a half-mile stretch of dual carriageway linking the A41/A4038 junction in Moxley with the simultaneously-completed Black Country Route...
- which linked Bilston with West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
.
The building of the route is criticised for reaching maximum vehicle capacity within weeks of opening, especially in the area East bound towards junction 10 of the M6 motorway, which has severe tailbacking in rush hour periods. Due to financial cut backs over the intervening years of planning, the route was downgraded with surface level roundabouts around the town of Bilston, thus hardly alleviating any of the traffic congestion that the split level junctions were designed to help avoid. Traffic signal systems were installed for one Bilston roundabout with more planned due to the overwhelming traffic around the town, thus adding to the congestion problems that are particularly problematic at rush hours.