Weekend of traffic woe

Drivers faced fresh delays today for the final phase of the £25 million Rugeley Bypass.

Major rush-hour disruption was caused when work started on the roundabout into the A51 north of the town yesterday, causing misery for the drivers caught up in it.

And Staffordshire Highways' teams will continue putting in place the final link of the congestion-busting route throughout the weekend.

Traffic lights were used at off peak times but heavy queues built up yesterday evening.

Jeremy Herbert, spokesman for Staffordshire Highways, apologised to motorists but said the work had to be done at that time.

"The team has done everything possible to squeeze all the heavy-weight work into the weekends but yesterday's start was unavoidable," he said.

"Time is limited and we have some significant challenges to deliver in linking the new road into the Staffordshire's Highway network.

Challenges

"It is not an easy job and even working through the weekend would not have given us enough time to get this stage done."

The bypass is one of the biggest ever investments in Rugeley's future and critical for boosting the prosperity of the town, he added.

He also promised future delays would not be as disruptive.

"This is the last weekend of this major push and in future more minor works will take place off peak during the week," he said.

"Delivering a significant project like this, with all the benefits it will bring in terms of new jobs and investment and a reduction in congestion, can't be done without causing some temporary disruption."

Work started on the bypass in January 2005 and is on course to be completed by January 2008.