A major roadworks scheme at a busy Solihull junction, which will last nearly two years, is due to start next month.

"Important upgrades" which promise to ease congestion and "improve traffic flow" on the A45 Coventry Road/Damson Parkway/Terminal Road junction are set to begin in August.

The existing bridge is scheduled for removal on 15 August, before main works start on 17 August, which will last until spring 2028.

The West Midlands Combined Authority has already agreed to release £16.4 million grant funding for the scheme.

Preparatory works have started and "some disruption" is expected, with traffic restrictions starting from 27 July.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has appointed Balfour Beatty to complete the scheme.

A council statement said: "The junction is an important route for Solihull town centre, Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham Airport, the NEC and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), whilst linking the A45 to the M42. It carries high traffic volumes but experiences significant congestion during peak periods and JLR shift change periods, affecting general traffic and bus journeys.

"The improvements aim to address congestion by adding and reallocating lanes, updating the pedestrian and cycle crossings and upgrading the signals.

"This will enhance capacity and improve journey times, road safety and reliability for all users, whilst supporting economic growth in the area."

Among the works planned are:

• Additional straight-ahead lane on the A45 in the eastbound (towards the motorway) direction and additional right turn lane from Coventry Road into Damson Parkway – providing a total of five traffic lanes on the approach from Birmingham
• New bus lane on the eastbound approach into the junction to provide buses with free flow access to the junction
• Dualling of Damson Parkway between A45 Coventry Road and JLR Logistics Operations Centre access. This will complete the missing dual carriageway link in dual carriageway between Damson Lane and the A45
• Replacement of the substandard pedestrian footbridge over the A45 with toucan standard pedestrian and cycle crossing across three arms of the junction, which also help to improve access to the current bus stops and future sprint stops