Impact of Bham tunnel closures at rush hour?

[bungle]

On hols this week, so not been in Bham, so wondered what the impact was of the tunnels being closed? Last week it was a breeze driving in up the M6 and down the Expressway, probably the result of people taking holidays. But I imagine this week will have been different with the tunnels closed! Even though I turn off at the childrens hospital junction and dont go through the tunnels, I imagine the traffic will be backing up up the A38 as everyone has to pull off there rather than through the tunnels.

Is it carnage / a complete no-go if trains/buses are an option?

[MrC986]

The traffic has varied in the first week along the A38M. ..Monday was backed up onto the M6 though it hasn't seemed as bad for the next 3 days though it is busy around the pump island & Lancaster flyover. Apparently people are using the train more & the sensible ones are getting in to work earlier.

[hilly10]

It all went well last year after the first week. This next two weeks should be quite as it's main holiday fortnight

[Steffan]

The Birmingham fortnight will give us a rest. Coming from the Newtown road going on to the Bristol road I find it easier to go under the A38 and around Digbeth past the Markets up to the Pershore road and over onto Britsol road via lee bank middleway well past any hold ups or up the Pershore road itself and around Pebble Mill. Takes me 20 minutes and avoids the queues which can be pretty daunting. I just think its easier to assume the centre is blocked and avoid the snarl ups.

However getting to the office in Colmore Row is a challenge I ususually use the same cirtcuit go round the back of the markets up past the Arcadian and Hurst street and into the centre of town but always well away from the tunnels. I park now around the post office in Victoria Square and nip in on foot for a maximum of an hour and nip out again. it is a bind but it does mean I can get in when necessary whereas coming down the A38 and up through the chaos from the closed tunnels would be a very long job.

Just assume the centre is impassable and detour around the problem is my suggestion.

Saves me a lot of time but I am still looking for the return of the tunnels!!