New lights bring traffic havoc

Miles of tailbacks built up around one of the Black Country's busiest traffic islands today as lights for an 18-month roadwork scheme brought vehicles to a standstill.

Motorists said jams were backing up two miles from the Burnt Tree roundabout towards Dudley, with vehicles left queuing bumper to bumper.

Tailbacks stretched along Birmingham Road and Duncan Edwards Way as far as Cousin's furniture store.

Dudley Council said new traffic lights in Burnt Tree, due to remain in place for the rest of today and tomorrow, could be to blame for the chaos.

A £12.3 million project to redevelop the busy island on the Dudley-Sandwell boundary started last month. It is due to last 18 months.

Sales manager Craig Willetts, aged 41, was stuck in the traffic as he made his way to work this morning. The father-of-two, of Dunstall Road, Halesowen, said: "I was coming along Duncan Edwards Way and the traffic was tailing all the way back to Cousin's. Who knows what it is going to be like when the children go back to school.

"It took me 35 minutes to get from Cousin's to Castle Gate island. People are going to get terribly frustrated if this carries on for the next 18 months."

"It's bumper to bumper for a mile-and-a-half, two miles. There's no clear diversion which would ease the problems."

Donna Parkes, a receptionist at the Village Hotel in Birmingham Road, added: "It's very busy outside the hotel. It is very slow-moving all the way along Birmingham Road between Castle Gate island and Burnt Tree island on both sides."

About 20 roads are to be affected by either lane closures or speed restrictions during the scheme. Cars will be stopped from going west along Dudley Road West and one lane of Tividale Road as well as some parts of Hill Road and New Birmingham Road. There will also be 20mph speed limits.