Blackheath town centre and bus interchange

The delivery of the Blackheath Interchange presented a series of operational, logistical and stakeholder-related challenges requiring careful coordination and proactive management.

Maintaining traffic flow during construction was a primary challenge, as Rowley Regis experiences regular congestion and any lane closures, road closures or temporary traffic controls were likely to significantly impact journey times, making safe and efficient movement for vehicles and pedestrians essential to avoiding further congestion. Bus services are central to local mobility, meaning any route diversions, stop relocations or timetable impacts had to be minimised, requiring collaboration to maintain reliable operations and ensure passengers received clear, timely information about changes.

The project directly affected shop owners and businesses, with construction activity risking reduced footfall, restricted access and disrupted deliveries throughout the works. The market days operating within the town centre required careful scheduling to avoid disrupting established trade patterns. The constrained urban road space created additional complexity in managing simultaneous construction activities, pedestrian access, vehicle movements and public transport operations safely throughout the 33-week programme.

To maintain traffic and pedestrian movement through the town centre, McPhillips prioritised completing the elements of the project with the greatest traffic impact during night-time works at the beginning of the programme.

This approach allowed the remainder of the scheme to be delivered under temporary traffic signals maintaining one-way traffic flow throughout, providing the safest solution for pedestrians and the workforce whilst ensuring vehicles entering the town centre could move freely and avoid congestion. Final surfacing works and associated road closures were also carried out at night towards the end of the project.

Weekly meetings with bus operators ensured they were fully informed of progress and any potential changes, helping maintain service reliability and allowing temporary bus stops to be installed where required. Certain work areas were avoided on market days to minimise disruption to trade, with regular consultation with business owners maintained throughout, creating strong relationships with local traders who could contact the site team directly whenever needed.

A key value-engineering proposal to plane existing footways rather than fully reconstruct them reduced programme duration and eliminated the need for daytime footway closures, ensuring uninterrupted pedestrian access to all shops throughout the works.

Nearby businesses were engaged and offered the opportunity to supply plants and shrubs for the landscaping, strengthening trade within the town centre. Local supply chain commitment ensured 60% of project costs were spent within a 20-mile radius, directly supporting the regional economy.

The project was delivered on time and within the £1.35 million budget, achieving an excellent safety record with zero RIDDOR-reportable incidents and zero service strikes over the entire delivery period.

The contractor’s proposal to plane existing footways rather than fully reconstruct them successfully reduced programme duration whilst maintaining uninterrupted pedestrian access to all shops throughout construction. Defects were monitored and addressed during construction, with only minor outstanding items deferred due to the Christmas embargo.

Upon completion, a specialist contractor was arranged to clean all shopfronts and windows, leaving the entire area looking its best for the community. McPhillips also provided the road closure required for the safe switch-on of the Christmas lights and supplied gifts distributed at the event, demonstrating commitment to community benefit beyond contractual requirements.