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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. To try and combat the congestion, work started in 2020 to widen the bridges over the M6 at Junction 10.
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157:. A town centre by-pass for Bilston, planned to form a spur road to the main route, was given the go-ahead in 1964. By 1968 work had yet to start on any of the route, but it was appearing on maps as a "proposed motorway" and work was expected to start in the early 1970s. However, none of this happened and within a few years the plans were shelved. However, neighbouring
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However, plans to build the Black
Country Route project were revived in the early 1980s, since the congestion in the surrounding area was gradually worsening, and given the go-ahead in 1986. It was necessary to dig up a short section at the end of the existing but unopened continuation of The Keyway
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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
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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
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The route was scheduled to be open to the west of
Bilston by the end of the 1980s and fully operational by the early 1990s, although ultimately this would take longer as funding difficulties delayed the construction of the route between Bilston and Walsall.
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theme came about due to the proximity of abundant wildlife adjacent to the new build development. A small stream, the natural habit of wildlife in the area was diverted around the building as a feature rather than being hidden underground in a
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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
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requires the developers to include a budget in their scheme to purchase and commission an artform as part of the development. For example on the tower of the new
Citadel building a stainless steel hovering
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The first phase of the Black
Country Route, connecting the A4123 Birmingham New Road with the new Sedgmoor Park housing estate, was opened in 1986. The second phase, crossing the Main Line railway and the
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did gain a dual carriageway southern by-pass, The Keyway, during the 1970s, which would have linked up to the planned motorway and formed an ideal link road to any further "urban motorway".
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so as not to be too reflective and distractive, when seen by passing motorists from the new road and sympathetic in span shape to the design by Webb Gray of the buildings' butterfly roof.
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and
Junction 10 of the M6 motorway on the border of Willenhall and Walsall. The completion of an overbridge crossing Darlaston Lane on 21 July 1995 saw the full route opened by
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As re-development and new development commence along the road route more artworks are commissioned as part of the local planning policy, a strategy the
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on its completion 1991. Curiously, a short stretch of the route between the two completed stretches did not open until
December 1992.
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The next phase was opened in
February 1995, between Oxford Street and Hare Street, followed by the link between The Keyway south of
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which had been built by
Walsall Council due to changes to the design of the junction with the Black Country Route.
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which stretch up to 6 metres in height. The male and female figures depicted are based on those found in old
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Its completion coincided with the completion of another substantial road project - the
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The third phase by-passed the south of Bilston town centre and reached the
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called "Steel Columns." "This sculpture was made from 15 lengths of
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and joining up with Bilston town centre, was opened in 1988.
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has employed for many years. This strategy a form of
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276:'Tower of Light' by Eillis O’Connel, July 2008
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383:Pathetic Motorways - Bilston Link Motorway
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181:'Steel columns' sculpture, August 2008
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237:'Hovering kestrel' by
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207:Dudley MBC
159:Willenhall
139:Willenhall
196:Victorian
133:towns of
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263:Ayrshire
68:Location
316:leader
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216:kestrel
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