£61m relief road opened by Baker
A £61m relief road which aims to tackle congestion in Birmingham has been opened by transport minister Norman Baker.
The Selly Oak Relief Road – to be known as Aston Webb Boulevard – was built with a government contribution of more than £38m.
It is hoped the road will help improve travel conditions for the city's businesses by cutting through-traffic from the existing A38 by half. It will also become the main route to the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Baker said: "I am very pleased to be able to open the new Aston Webb Boulevard.
"This scheme has also been the catalyst for major investment in the Selly Oak area including the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital, so it ticks both boxes of creating growth and cutting carbon, which are my two transport priorities."
The name for the new road - Aston Webb Boulevard - was chosen by Birmingham residents. Sir Aston Webb was a prominent 19th century architect who designed the Great Hall on the University of Birmingham campus which overlooks the new road.
