Network Rail has started work to construct a brand new entrance to Birmingham New Street station which will provide better links between the city’s business district and the redeveloped station.
The new north-west corner entrance will allow people walking from Victoria Square, New Street and Colmore Row to access the redeveloped station direct from Stephenson Street.
It will open at the end of 2012 when the first half of the new station concourse will open to passengers.
To allow construction work to progress safely, Network Rail has secured agreement with Birmingham City Council for a road closure of Navigation Street on weekdays with the road reopening at weekends.
Chris Montgomery, project director for Network Rail said:
“The north west side of New Street station will change beyond recognition over the next 18 months as we build the new entrance and continue work to clad the station in its stainless steel façade.
“With easy access to the city centre, we anticipate the north-west entrance will become one of the most popular ways to access the station.
“The road closures are essential to allow us to complete this work safely and we will continue to work with Birmingham City Council and our other partners to minimise disruption while we build.”
Behind the hoardings, large parts of the old concrete clad station building will be demolished to allow construction of the steelwork frame which will form the new station entrance.
Next door on Stephenson Street, preparatory work is already underway to install the first section of stainless steel façade.
The new entrance will open at the end of December 2012 as part of the completion of Phase 1 of the station redevelopment.
Once the new entrance and concourse is open, work will switch to redeveloping the existing station with the project set to complete in 2015.
