The A38 northbound slip at Streethay stays closed until April 2027 after HS2 cancelled the October reopening. The diversion, the other live schemes and parking.
The biggest job on Lichfield’s roads is not the county council’s and is not finishing this year. HS2 is carrying its line under the A38 at Streethay, the northbound entry slip road has been shut since the work started in March 2026, and the reopening that was pencilled in for October 2026 has been cancelled. The slip is now expected back in April 2027. This page sets out that diversion, the two council schemes running alongside it, and what parking costs at the end of the drive.
The A38 at Streethay
- What: realigning the A38 so HS2 can pass beneath it, between Swinfen Interchange and Hilliard’s Cross.
- Who: HS2 Ltd and its contractor BBV JV, not Staffordshire County Council.
- Closed: the A38 northbound entry slip road at Streethay, since March 2026.
- Now expected to reopen: April 2027, when the permanent realignment is finished.
The October 2026 date was a temporary reopening, and HS2 has dropped it. Its own notice says independent road safety audits raised concerns that could not be resolved, so the temporary arrangement was abandoned in favour of keeping the diversion in place until the permanent road is built (HS2, A38 work at Streethay).
For anyone joining the A38 northbound from the Streethay side, that is another winter and spring of the signed detour.
The two county schemes running now
London Road, new junction. Staffordshire County Council is building a new signalised junction on London Road near the Swinfen Interchange, with wider footways, a shared cycleway, a new crossing and upgraded drainage and lighting. Work started on Monday 23 March 2026 and is planned to take about seven months, finishing in autumn 2026. Temporary two-way traffic signals are in place throughout, and there is a week of overnight closures near the end for surfacing. None of it comes out of council tax: it is a section 278 agreement funded entirely by the developer, Indurent, and it exists to serve the Cricket Lane housing scheme being built with Persimmon.
The county’s own advice is to allow more time for journeys in south Lichfield while it runs, and the temporary signals are lifted whenever the A38 closes for HS2 work.
Eastern Avenue, walking and cycling. The A5192 Eastern Avenue scheme by The Friary School widens the northern footway and builds new shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists. It started on 20 July 2026, at the beginning of the school holidays, and is expected to take about six weeks under temporary multi-way signals. It costs around £400,000, paid for from HS2-related grant funding rather than council tax.
Two nearby jobs are already done: the Eastern Avenue and Watery Lane junction upgrade, and the Watery Lane scheme.
Who to call about what
Lichfield District Council does not run the roads. Staffordshire County Council is the highway authority for every road in the district, and the A38 works are HS2’s. In practice:
- Potholes, street lights, road closures, traffic orders: Staffordshire County Council, which lists its Lichfield schemes and their status.
- Live works, including utility digs: the one.network map, which is the feed the signs come from.
- The A38 at Streethay: HS2, which publishes notices for each phase.
- Car parks, permits, parking fines in council car parks: Lichfield District Council.
What parking costs when you get there
| Type | Charge | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Short stay, first 30 minutes | Free (take a ticket) | Bird Street, District Council House, Friary Inner, Sandford Street, Lombard Street upper deck |
| Short stay, 30 minutes to 1 hour | £1.00 | as above |
| Long stay, up to 4 hours | £1.50 | Birmingham Road (train station), Redcourt, Bus Station, Friary Multi Storey, Greenhill, University East and West |
| Long stay, up to 6 hours | £2.50 | as above |
| Long stay, all day | £4.00 | as above |
| All Burntwood council car parks | Free, 24 hour maximum stay | High Street and Queen Street in Chasetown, Rugeley Road in Chase Terrace |
What it means for you: the three council car parks in Burntwood are free, with a 24-hour maximum stay and around 87 spaces between them plus blue badge bays, while an all-day stay in Lichfield city is £4.00. The free first half hour in the city short-stay car parks only counts if you take a ticket from the machine.
The station car park at Lichfield Trent Valley is a different system again, run commercially at £11.00 a day, and the alternatives are set out on our trains to London page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the A38 slip road at Streethay closed?
HS2 is realigning the A38 between Swinfen Interchange and Hilliard’s Cross so the railway can pass underneath. The northbound entry slip road has been closed since March 2026, and the permanent replacement is now expected to open in April 2027.
When will the A38 works at Lichfield finish?
HS2 now gives April 2027 for the permanent realignment and the reopening of the slip road. A temporary reopening planned for October 2026 was cancelled after independent road safety audits raised concerns.
What is the diversion for the closed A38 slip road?
Follow Cappers Lane, join the A38 by the southbound off slip road to Swinfen Island, then use the roundabout to rejoin the A38 northbound. The route is signed for the duration of the works.
What are the roadworks on London Road, Lichfield?
A new signalised junction with wider footways and a cycleway, built under a section 278 agreement and funded by the developer Indurent to serve the Cricket Lane housing scheme. It started on 23 March 2026 and is due to finish in autumn 2026, with a week of overnight closures for surfacing near the end.
Who do I report a pothole to in Lichfield?
Staffordshire County Council, not Lichfield District Council. The county is the highway authority for every road in the district. The district council runs the car parks and the parks.
Is parking free in Lichfield?
The first 30 minutes is free in the city’s short-stay car parks if you take a ticket. All three Lichfield District Council car parks in Burntwood are free, with a 24-hour maximum stay.
Sources
- HS2, A38 work at Streethay: Swinfen Interchange to Hilliard’s Cross for the closure, the cancelled October reopening, the April 2027 date and the diversion route.
- Staffordshire County Council, roadworks in Lichfield for the list of live, scheduled and completed schemes.
- Staffordshire County Council, London Road new access and its newsroom announcement for the dates, traffic management and funding.
- Staffordshire County Council, Eastern Avenue pedestrian and cycle scheme for its start date, duration and cost.
- Lichfield District Council, Lichfield city car parks and Burntwood car parks for tariffs, free periods and space counts.
Roadworks move and temporary orders take effect only when the signs are out. Check the live map on the day. Checked August 2026.
Have your say
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