Brakes applied on £7m scheme

A £7 million scheme to free up one of the most notorious traffic congestion blackspots in the Black Country has been delayed, it has been announced.

The infamous Burnt Tree traffic island in Tipton is in line for a major overhaul which includes replacing the island with traffic lights.

It comes after years of complaints about traffic snarl-ups along the key commuter route.

Highways officials at Sandwell Council were due to give the go-ahead to the buying up of key plots of land around the troubled site.But it has been announced that the brakes have been put on the project for at least five months.

Sandwell cabinet member for regeneration and transport Councillor Bob Badham insisted the project would still go ahead.

He said: "It's just a technicality. These things never go according to plan.

"There is always alterations to these types of projects and fine tuning that takes place, but it will go ahead."

He said the Department of Transport had delayed matters by asking for more information on the scheme, which could not be looked at until the middle of next year.

The Government has signalled that the project will be a priority, and will provide in the region of £7 million for the scheme.

It will include removing the island and replacing it with a series of traffic lights, which the council says will free up traffic. There will also be some changes to the priorities on surrounding roads.

Sandwell is the lead authority on the scheme, but has been in talks with neighbouring highways bosses in Dudley for a number of months.

As well as replacement the current island with a series of traffic signals, there will also be a number of road closures around the site to filter traffic through the junction more freely.

Compulsory purchase orders are being drawn up to buy up plots of land around the island to allow the work to start.

The project is expected to take several years to complete. It is set to start moving again in May next year.

By Chris Howes