A38 Reopens After 11-Day HS2 Closure Near Lichfield

Good news for Burton drivers: the A38 near Lichfield has now fully reopened in both directions following the recent HS2 engineering works.

The busy stretch of road between Swinfen Island and Hilliard’s Cross reopened late on Monday evening (7 April) after teams working on the HS2 project completed the planned realignment of the carriageway.

For the past 11 days, construction crews worked around the clock, including over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, to move the A38 onto a newly constructed section of road. This realignment will allow the HS2 railway line to pass beneath the road at Streethay in the future.

For commuters travelling between Burton, Lichfield and Birmingham, it means journeys should now return to normal after nearly two weeks of diversions and slower local traffic.

One small catch

While the main road is now open again, the northbound entry slip road at Streethay will remain closed until October 2026 while further HS2 work continues in the area.

Drivers joining the A38 northbound locally will need to continue using signed alternative routes for the time being.

A big job behind the scenes

National Highways confirmed that the closure allowed HS2 contractors to safely carry out the major engineering work needed to reposition the road and prepare the site for the future railway crossing.

They also thanked residents, communities and road users for their patience while the work was carried out.

For Burton motorists who rely on the A38 daily, the most important takeaway is simple: the main route south is now open again.

And after nearly two weeks of diversions and patient queue-watching, that will come as welcome news to many local drivers.