City road remains shut over building defect danger
BBCA main city centre road in Birmingham remains shut because a section of a building's frontage presents a danger to road users, the council has said.
Suffolk Street slip road from Navigation Street leading to the A38 Suffolk Street Queensway has been closed since October "due to ongoing structural defects" on the Orion Building's facade.
The city council added it recognised the impact on traffic, but the situation with the building, managed by Centrick, was complicated.
Both the council and property company said they were working together to ensure the route could reopen as soon as it was reasonable and safe.
"Whilst we recognise the significant impact this is having on the local network and the wider economy of the city centre, during the busiest Christmas period, safety of road users remains our top priority," said a council spokesperson.
"We understand the situation is complicated due to the construction of the facade system."
Centrick engineers "were working to ensure that there will be no consequential issues to the building," they added.
In October, firefighters sent to the scene said eighty breeze blocks were slightly unstable on the eighth floor of the high-rise.
A spokesperson for property management firm Centrick explained the slip road was initially shut "following concerns about suspected debris falling from the building".
Subsequent investigations had identified issues with external elements of the building, which it was now understood related to its original construction, they said.
"There is currently no confirmed date for the road to reopen; however, we are working with engineers, the local authority and other stakeholders to ensure the building is made safe as quickly as possible," the spokesperson added.
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