Maine Stays Journal · Local guide
Merry Hill tram works: Level Street, the entrances to use and what is being built
Utility diversions for the Metro began around Level Street at Merry Hill in spring 2025 and main tram construction followed from the summer. The Midland Metro Alliance advised visitors to use the Pedmore Road and The Boulevard entrances rather than Level Street and Embankment.
What is happening at Level Street
Before a tram line can be laid, the pipes and cables under the road have to move. The Midland Metro Alliance says preliminary work, including extensive utility upgrades and diversions, has been going on in the Level Street area of Merry Hill since spring 2025, moving into the main delivery of the tramway from the summer of 2025.
Localised traffic management is in place while the work goes on. It moves as each section is finished, so the picture on any given day can differ from the last time you visited.
Which entrances to use
The Metro Alliance asked people heading to Merry Hill to use the Pedmore Road and The Boulevard entrances rather than Level Street and Embankment. Transport for West Midlands publishes alternative routes and travel advice on its website, which is the place to check before setting off.
Merry Hill has more than 10,000 parking spaces and its own bus station, so most visits are still straightforward once you are past the works.
The roads around Merry Hill
The centre has had its own bus station since it opened, with direct buses to Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge. Access was last reshaped in 1998, when the two junctions with the A4036 between Dudley and Pedmore Road were altered and more than 40 houses were demolished to make way for the wider road and a redesigned Quarry Bank junction.
The tram adds a third way in. The Pedmore Road stop on the new line is named after the same road, so expect some of the work to stay close to that entrance until the line opens.
Who is building it
The Midland Metro Alliance designs and builds the network on behalf of Transport for West Midlands. It brings together the West Midlands Combined Authority, the designers Egis, Tony Gee and Pell Frischmann and the contractor Colas Rail, with Colas Ltd, Barhale, Bouygues UK and Auctus Management Group as sub-alliance partners.
The Alliance has been open about the impact. Its head of engagement and skills, Rose Rees, said there would inevitably be some disruption to journeys during the works.
How long it will last
Trams are due to reach Merry Hill in 2028, with new stops at Cinder Bank and Pedmore Road on the way. The Metro has already shaped other plans in the town: Brierley Hill's own High Street works had their completion date moved to March 2025 because the Metro link to the High Street was postponed.
Staying nearby during the works
Merry Hill is about 2 miles by road from our house, The Merry Hill Lounge, so you can stay clear of the busiest roads around the works. The house has free off-road parking with room for vans as well as cars. Cradley Heath station is under a mile away.
Where to stay: The Merry Hill Lounge
- Four bedrooms and a sofa bed, sleeping up to 10
- Two bathrooms, a full kitchen and a washer dryer
- Free off-road parking with room for vans as well as cars
- 500 Mb Wi-Fi and a private back garden
- Bills included, with up to 20% off stays of 28 nights or more
Sources
- Midland Metro Alliance, 11 July 2025
- Black Country Radio, 13 July 2025
- ACE Infrastructure Intelligence, 15 July 2025
- Black Country Radio, 29 February 2024
- Wikipedia: Merry Hill Shopping Centre
Sources checked on 6 October 2026. Road distances are measured on OpenStreetMap from the house, The Merry Hill Lounge, on 6 October 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Merry Hill open during the tram works?
Yes. The works run around the edges of the site with traffic management in place. The Metro Alliance published advice on which entrances to use.
Which entrance should I use?
The Midland Metro Alliance advised using the Pedmore Road and The Boulevard entrances rather than Level Street and Embankment. Check Transport for West Midlands for current advice.
When will the works finish?
The tram is due to open to Merry Hill in 2028.
Your Black Country stay,
sorted.
The Merry Hill Lounge: a whole house in Brierley Hill for up to 10, with parking, fast Wi-Fi and every bill included.