B4173
B4173 | ||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||
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From: | Netherton, Dudley (SO943880) | |||||||||
To: | Cradley (SO940847) | |||||||||
Distance: | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) | |||||||||
Meets: | A459, A4100, A458 | |||||||||
Highway Authorities | ||||||||||
Traditional Counties | ||||||||||
Route outline (key) | ||||||||||
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The B4173 runs through the deepest, darkest Black Country, from Netherton near Dudley in the north, to Cradley in the south.
Starting at traffic lights on the A459 the road heads south along the residential Cradley Road. There's an industrial section either side of the Dudley Canal but then the houses come back as the road descends steeply to cross the Mousesweet Brook and enter Cradley Heath. It's not long before we reach traffic lights on the A4100.
Originally the B4173 multiplexed west along the High Street (numbered B4172 until 1925; A4100 since) but the town centre now has a relief road so we follow that instead - most of which seems to be past Tesco. The B4173 regains its number by turning left at traffic lights, then crosses the High Street at the next set of lights. After passing the shops we go under the Birmingham to Stourbridge railway line and then over the River Stour to enter Cradley itself. There's a left-hand bend and we climb through the centre of town before ending at traffic lights on the A458.