Albion Roundabout

Albion Roundabout is a roundabout within the Carter's Green area of West Bromwich, and marks the point where the West Bromwich Expressway section of A41 constructed in the 1970s, meets the 1990s Black Country Spine Road to the north.

The A4196 leads through typical urban scenery to Wednesbury, following the alignment of Telford's Holyhead Road, and as such was part of A41 prior to the opening of the Black Country Spine Road.

History

Albion Roundabout 1972-1994

Albion Roundabout as planned in late 1980s

The current roundabout is the second modern junction to exist at the site. The original junction consisted of two roundabouts. The larger roundabout was the western terminus of The Expressway with provision for grade separation where the A41 rejoins the existing road network. The smaller roundabout was built around a clock tower which is the most famous landmark of the Carters Green area.

In the late 1980s the Black Country Spine Road was being planned and this forms an extension to The Expressway. The route chosen heads west from the junction and the existing roundabout pointed northwestwards so the entire junction was rebuilt. The Spine Road was to be fully grade separated but costs had risen dramatically so all the junctions were built as regular roundabouts. This junction missed out on its grade separation for the second time.

Pedestrian subways were built beneath the roundabout instead of the A41 underpass.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A41	Wolverhampton, Tipton, Wednesbury, Great Bridge, Dudley (A461)
A41	(M5,M6), Birmingham, Walsall (A4031), Sutton Coldfield (A453)
A4196	Hill Top
	West Bromwich town centre