Bilston

Bilston is a town in England's West Midlands. It is the south-eastern corner of the administrative district of Wolverhampton. Two wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North.

Transport

From 1850 to 1972 there was a railway station in Bilston town centre, but passenger services were then withdrawn and the line via Bilston (from Wolverhampton to West Bromwich) was closed completely in 1980. It re-opened in 1999 as the first phase of the Midland Metro tram line between Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

Related Topics:
1850 - 1972 - Railway - West Bromwich - 1980 - 1999 - Midland Metro - Tram - Birmingham

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Another significant development in the Bilston area was the A463 Black Country Route. With more and more cars on the road, the roads around Bilston town centre became increasingly congested as the twentieth century progressed. It became so severe that, by the late 1960s, the government had drawn up plans for a new dual carriageway bypassing Bilston (and running from the A4123 near Coseley to Junction 10 of the M6 motorway at Walsall) which was scheduled to be completed by 1976. However, the plans collapsed and Bilston was condemned to increased congestion, for another decade at least.

Related Topics:
A463 - Black Country Route - Twentieth century - 1960s - Dual carriageway - A4123 - Coseley - M6 motorway - Walsall - 1976

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The plans for a new dual carrigeway were revived in the early 1980s. This time the planners had decided on a slightly different route which would run much closer to Bilston town centre. The first phase of the road (to be known as Black County Route) was completed in 1986, though initially running around half a mile east of the A4123. It was extended in 1991 to Oxford Street in Bilston town centre. This expansion resulted in a number of buildings being demolished and some roads having to be re-routed while one road (Market Street) was completely obliterated. This new road changed the face of Bilston town centre forever.

Related Topics:
1980s - 1986 - 1991

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During 1995, the final phase of the Black Country Route between Bilston town centre and Junction 10 of the M6 was completed. This new road has seen a major improvement in the traffic flow around Bilston town centre.

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