SOME of Birmingham鈥檚 worst traffic junctions are to get jam busting improvements following a 拢5.8 million cash handout from regional transport chiefs.

Work on , also known as Pagoda Island, in the city centre, the Scott Arms junction at Great Barr and the congested Bromford Island is set to benefit from the West Midlands Combined Authority handout.

There will also be further investment in bus lane enforcement cameras and traffic light upgrades on the busy Lichfield Road in Walsall, roads around Merry Hill near Dudley and the A34 Stratford Road in Solihull.

Combined Authority transport boss Roger Lawrence said: 鈥淐ongestion costs this region billions every year in lost productivity so it is to every road user鈥檚 benefit that we invest in keeping traffic moving.

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Traffic backed up at Pagoda Island

鈥淭his money is being used in those schemes we feel will deliver the maximum return and ensure our roads are fit for the future.鈥

Holloway Circus was highlighted as a massive traffic headache by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street in a pre-election interview with the Birmingham Mail. He said: "It sends me bonkers."

His Green Party rival James Burn complained about the tailbacks at Bromford Island and called for the Castle Vale/Sutton Park rail line to be re-opened.

The cash, which comes from the Government鈥檚 National Productivity Investment Fund, has to be used to improve roads, reduce congestion and improve journey times for commuters.

Bromford Island which may have a revamp.

The Combined Authority has submitted bids for further funding to cover more projects.

Where the 拢5.8 million will be spent:

Birmingham

  • Phase 1 of the Bromford gyratory scheme (拢569,000)
  • Holloway Circus (拢700,000)
  • Journey Time reliability in city centre (拢530,000)
  • Bus Lane Enforcement (拢98,000)

Dudley

  • Brierley Hill Merry Hill centre (拢660,000)

Sandwell

  • Scott Arms: A34 Birmingham Road/A4041 Queslett Road and Newtown Road (拢273,000)

Solihull

  • Solihull Bridge five year programme (拢600,000) and A34 Stratford Road Growth Corridor (拢616,500)

Walsall

  • A461 Lichfield Road (拢960,000)

Wolverhampton

  • A4124 traffic signal upgrades and bus priority (拢500,000)

Coventry

  • Keeping Coventry Moving project (拢700,000)