We see traffic on the completed first stage of the inner ring road. The background to the scheme is illustrated with maps showing the ring road, the M6 and M5 motorways, a map for a proposed 1918 scheme with stills of old Birmingham and diagrams drawn up in 1945 for the eventual inner ring road.
We then see shots of Harold Watkinson, the Minister of Transport inaugurating the scheme on 8 March 1957 by exploding a charge to demolish a wall. There are extensive shots of construction work on the new road including the old road being dug up, cellars of houses being filled in with hardcore and concrete being laid.
We see the construction of a viaduct on the Hurst Street to Queen's Drive section of the new road, an approach road from Hinckley Street being built and a flyover above Dudley Street (these shots are all around Smallbrook Queensway).
We then see the newly constructed Hurst Street underpass and pedestrian ramps (this was opened 8 April 1959) and pedestrian access to the new Bullring Market which includes newly constructed permanent stalls. We then see new lamp columns being installed as well as new sewers.
The first section (Smallbrook Queensway) running from Horse Fair to Queen's Drive is then seen being opened by Ernest Marples MP, Minister of Transport who is accompanied by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham John Lewis and Alderman D. S. Thomas, the chair of the public works committee (this event took place on 11 March 1960).
We then see more features of the new road: separate levels constructed at Six Ways junction in Aston; a new multi storey car park at the Bull Ring (not the Bull Ring Centre as that had yet to be constructed); parking under the Dudley Street viaduct; and new office buildings along Smallbrook Queensway (including the Stewarts and Lloyds building). We also see a model of the Bull Ring shopping centre and the newly constructed Albany Hotel.
Finally on 24 May 1963 we see the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh touring the Bull Ring market accompanied by D. S. Thomas and the city's engineer Herbert Manzoni.
Chairman Public Works Committee: Alderman D.S. Thomas
City Engineer & Surveyor 1937 - 1963: Sir Herbert J. Manzoni C.B.E. M.I.C.E.
Directed by N.P. Brand M.I.C.E.
Filmed by John Cope A.R.P.S.
Commentary: Barry Lankester