Rising costs put West Midlands Metro extensions under threat

Three miles of West Midlands Metro’s southern extension may never be built because construction costs are spiralling out of control.

Suggestions that the line may terminate at Dudley were made at the West Midlands Combined Authority meeting on July 19, when it was explained that the project is now three years late, with the section under construction almost 50% over budget.

The price of the line from Wednesbury to Merry Hill shopping centre, which was estimated to cost £449.5 million when approved in March 2019, is now running at £654.8m and could increase further.