Access in and out of Birmingham city centre has ground to a halt this evening, October 24, after a car overturned inside the A38 tunnels. Motorists are reporting that it is taking 40 minutes to travel a mile as traffic backs up and major delays are caused by the incident.
A car has flipped near St Chad's Queensway, in the tunnel close to St Chad's church. Live traffic systems are reporting major delays this evening as well as building congestion in and around the city centre. There are delays to National Express buses across the city too as teams work to maintain timetables.
Colmore BID wrote: "We are aware that a car has overturned in the tunnels near the St Chad's Lights on the A38. There are likely to be delays whilst the situation is resolved." Pictures from the scene sent to BirminghamLive show long queues on the carriageway and blocked access.
West Midlands Police has urged drivers to avoid the area as they attend the scene and have issued a statement on the collision, which you can read here. A West Midlands Ambulance spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of a two-car RTC near to the junction of Livery Street and Great Charles Street Queensway, one ambulance and a paramedic officer attended the scene. On arrival we discovered one patient, a woman. She was assessed and discharged at the scene."
This is a developing news story. Follow our live blog below for latest updates.
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Key Events
End of updates and further reading
Thank you for staying with us this evening. Traffic has now eased on the A38 and access into Birmingham city centre should be easier, but there are residual delays.
Catch up on what happened here:
Delays have eased
Google live traffic data has gone from furiously red to orange, showing residual delays in the area. Traffic has eased considerably since the total gridlock that ensued earlier this evening. You can read about what happened, here.
Delayed kick off Albion V QPR
Our West Bromwich Albion reporter Joe Chapman says tonight's Albion v QPR game had a delayed kick off of 8:10pm after QPR arrived to the ground late. Joe tweeted: "Led to believe were QPR caught in traffic in Birmingham city centre, after staying there last night."
Gridlock in pictures
Look through our photo story below to see this evening's traffic chaos in pictures.
Lanes open on A38 but heavy traffic remains
Traffic systems state that all lanes are now open on the A38 but heavy traffic remains.
Furious driver gets in touch with BirminghamLive
One furious motorist who had been stuck in the chaos for more than an hour told BirminghamLive that the situation has been made worse by "selfish" drivers on Belgrave Middleway nudging through red lights in "desperate bid to be free of gridlock." She explained this meant that drivers on Bristol Road and drivers from town can't get through, and by the time the first few people from Belgrave Middleway get through it's too late.
Providing a live update from the road she added that while traffic has eased up slightly, other key routes out of the city centre like Pershore Road still have heavy delays.
Injury update
There were no serious injuries after a car overturned close to the A38 tunnel this evening. A West Midlands Ambulance spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of a two-car RTC near to the junction of Livery Street and Great Charles Street Queensway, one ambulance and a paramedic officer attended the scene. On arrival we discovered one patient, a woman. She was assessed and discharged at the scene."
Video from the A38
This bird's eye view taken by our photographer shows the scale of gridlock in Birmingham city centre this evening.
Traffic snarled up near key city points including New Street and 02
Parts of the city centre have turned into a car park following this evening's earlier collision in the A38. Heavy traffic remains near key city points such as New Street station, the O2 Academy and the Mailbox.
Latest update from live traffic systems
Live traffic system Inrix is reporting that the A38 remains blocked in both directions to assist with further disruption.
The update states: "The road is now blocked in both directions to assist with an accident that happened on the Northbound side."
Delays to buses - teams working to maintain timetables
National Express said they are working to maintain timetables as congestion spreads across the city. A spokesperson said: "We are seeing an increase in congestion across parts our network this evening. A number of bus services are seeing delays and our teams are working to maintain timetables.
"Please allow extra time for your journey We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
West Midlands Ambulance statement in
West Midlands Ambulance have confirmed the nature of the collision this evening. A spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of a two-car RTC near to the junction of Livery Street and Great Charles Street Queensway, one ambulance and a paramedic officer attended the scene. On arrival we discovered one patient, a woman. She was assessed and discharged at the scene."
Police update - avoid the area
West Midlands Police have issued an update to say avoid the area. Read that full update here.
"40 minutes to travel a mile"
One motorist told BirminghamLive it took her 40 minutes to go from the Jewellery Quarter to Aston Expressway.
Try and find an alternative route if you're not already stuck in the queues
Delays are expected for some time this evening on the A38, so if you can avoid using the route then try and do so. A car has overturned close to the underpass on Great Charles Street Queensway, and emergency crews are at the scene. The A38 remains blocked while they are in attendance.
Congestion is backed up to Sir Harrys Road for traffic heading away from Edgbaston. Southbound is back to Dartmouth Circus for traffic heading away from the A38(M) Aston Expressway.
Gridlock at height of rush hour
Pictures shared by one motorist show growing congestion at the height of rush hour this evening in Birmingham city centre. The A38 still remains blocked as emergency crews attend the scene after a car overturned near St Chad's Queensway, in the tunnel close to St Chad's church.
Live systems showing huge delays - avoid the A38 if you can
If you are planning to get into Birmingham city centre this evening, you may want to reconsider your mode of transport as access via the A38 is completely blocked. Even if you don't plan to use the tunnels, there is spreading congestion across the city, as you can see from the furiously red live map below.
'Blocked and long delays'
Live traffic system INRIX says: "A38 Queensway in both directions blocked long delays, queueing traffic due to overturned car at St Chads Tunnel. Congestion to Sir Harrys Road for traffic heading away from Edgbaston. Southbound is back to Dartmouth Circus for traffic heading away from the A38(M) Aston Expressway.
"Travel time is 30 minutes. The road is now blocked in both directions to assist with an accident that happened on the Northbound side."
A38 blocked
Good evening and welcome to our live updates as congestion builds in and around Birmingham city centre after a car overturned in the A38. The A38 is blocked this evening and motorists are reporting delays of more than 40 minutes.
