Work to progress the proposed extension of the Midland Metro from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill is due to commence this week.
The Midland Metro Alliance (MMA), working on behalf of West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will begin to clear vegetation from overgrown areas of the disused former South Staffordshire Railway line in order to carry out comprehensive structural and environmental surveys.
It is anticipated the construction of the route will begin during 2019 and that the route will open for passenger service in 2023.
The Wednesbury to Brierley Hill extension will be 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) long and have 17 stops, including 4 provisional stops.
The route will branch off from the existing east of the existing depot at Wednesbury and go via Dudley town centre, Merry Hill and the terminus at Brierley Hill.
The vegetation clearance process should take approximately two weeks and all residents and businesses who may be directly affected by the works have been informed they are taking place.
Councillor Roger Lawrence, lead member for transport for the WMCA, said: “Whilst this is not the formal start of work on the extension it is the first step towards it.
“There is a lot of work still to be done but once it is complete the Black Country and wider region will reap the economic rewards of having an extended modern tram system running through it.”