Wolverhampton road closure after surface breaks
More road closures will take place at the £3 million Vine Island after a newly laid road surface started to break apart - because contractors laid it in heavy rain.
The project, declared completed by Wolverhampton City Council last December, will see Bee Lane in Fordhouses shut for resurfacing work at its junction with A449 Stafford Road from 8am tomorrow until 5am Monday.
The council said that a downpour of rain when the surface was originally laid meant it has failed and needs replacing.
Tomorrow's roadworks will be followed by the closure of the northbound section of Stafford Road between Vine Island and junction two of the M54 from 7pm September 26 to 5pm September 29.
The news has been met with fury by a nearby trader who has had her takings drop by as much as 50 per cent since the work began to overhaul the junction in 2012.
Lynn Roberts, who owns Olive Grove on Stafford Road, has been a fierce critic of the project.
She said: "I am not surprised by this. I knew this would happen. It was supposed to be completed last December and we're approaching another December and it still isn't done.
"As soon as motorists see roadworks they avoid the area and they get into a habit of going elsewhere. I've said before but it is a never ending nightmare and that's exactly what it is.
"It seems that local trade is taking one hell of an impact to accommodate i54 and Jaguar Land Rover."
See also: Motorists already using new pedestrian zone in Wolverhampton city centre as rat run.
Spokesman for Wolverhampton City Council, Ian Bennett, said: "While the new surface was being laid at Vine Island and Bee Lane, there was a downpour of rain. At the time, the contractor had no choice but to carry on with the work as it was essential to re-open the road to traffic.
"Unfortunately, the rainfall was heavy enough to cool the fresh tarmac on part of the road surface too quickly, which affected its strength. This is the area that's begun to fail and which has to be replaced. The cost of this remedial work is being shared between the contractor and the council in accordance with our contract agreement.
"The council realises that this additional work will cause disruption and we apologise for any inconvenience it causes."
Diversions will be in place from tomorrow as the Bee Lane junction closure takes effect.
Vehicles under 10ft 6in wishing to access Bee Lane from Stafford Road will be diverted to the Three Tuns Roundabout and then directed onto Wood Lane, and then to Bee Lane.
Vehicles over 10ft 6 in wishing to access Bee Lane will be diverted around the Three Tuns roundabout, along Stafford Road towards the motorway junction and into Farmbrook Avenue.
