Major work to significantly improve one of Solihull's busiest and often congested routes could finally get underway next year.

There have been regular complaints from residents about the congestion on the A452 Chester Road, in particular jams near the Chelmund's Cross development.

Long hoped for improvements to the route are vital as traffic will eventually go to the planned £3.2 billion mixed use Arden Cross development.

At the latest meeting of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's (SMBC) cabinet portfolio holder for environment and infrastructure decision session the cabinet member, Cllr Ken Hawkins said: "It's been a while coming this".

Providing the update officer Walter Bailey said it had taken a number of years of work and bringing it to councillors was a "significant milestone".

"Congestion along the corridor between Moorend Avenue and Coleshill Heath Road has been an issue for a number of years now," he said.

"The preferred scheme intends to convert sections of the existing single carriageway into two lane dual carriageway whilst improving the operation of key junctions.

"The scheme also includes improvement to cycle infrastructure by shifting it off the main carriageway, and the scheme proposes to resurface existing footways in the area."

The officer said the "primary objectives" were to reduce congestion, improve journey times and "significantly" enhance the connectivity to UK Central Hub around the new HS2 station, Birmingham Business Park, Arden Cross and the NEC area.

Councillors heard the public took part in a consultation in 2024 with more than 80 per cent in support of the improvements.

A full business case was submitted to the West Midlands Combined Authority in September with a request for £8,994,000 of funding.

"We are anticipating approval of that in the new year," the officer said.

"In the meantime we have conducted a tending exercise to appoint a preferred contractor to deliver the scheme – Fitzgerald Contractor Ltd.

"Subject to approval of the business case and provision of the grant funding agreement we anticipate construction starting on site in April next year and lasting just less than a year."

Cllr Kathyrn Thomas said: "There is a lot of cycle lanes going in.

"Cycle lanes are only really useful if they connect from where people actually want to go from to go to.

"It's not really clear, both ends where they connect to.

"Is there a full cycle route into Chelmsley town centre? How much into Birmingham Business Park does it go?

"Do we have a cycle route through to the NEC?"

Cllr Hawkins said: "It's a good point – Chelmsley Wood you see a lot of people cycling."

The officer replied: "This scheme in effect is a portion of a wider scheme which connects north Solihull down to the HS2 interchange site.

"We have done exploratory work on that but in the absence of funding, we are focussing on this.

"The scheme before you has connections either end but ultimately the main aim is to connect north and south."

The portfolio holder went on to agree the appointment of the contractor and spending of the £8.9m on the scheme once received from the combined authority, at the meeting on October 8.