Delays fear sparks U-turn on junction bid

Plans to build a new junction on one of the Black Country's busiest roads have been scrapped.

The controversial proposals would have seen roadworks on a stretch of highway just half a mile from where 21 months of delays are being caused by the replacement of the Burnt Tree Island with traffic lights.

Sandwell Council bosses were expecting to put in traffic lights or a roundabout on Dudley Port in Tipton where it meets Peake Drive as part of a red route planned for the stretch. Work would have got underway within the next few weeks. But it emerged today that the scheme had been axed because not enough motorists would benefit.

Neighbourhoods chief Councillor Mahboob Hussain said: "The junction is going to stay the way it is. It is a possibility that we would put a yellow box junction to help people who are trying to turn right out of Peake Drive.

"At present there are not enough vehicles using that junction to justify installing a traffic light system. It would need to serve a large number of people for us to be able to do something like that."

There had been concerns that the six months of work, originally due to start in October, would have added to traffic chaos being caused by the scheme to replace Burnt Tree Island.

Work will still go ahead along Dudley Port to put double red lines banning any stopping in a bid to ease traffic flows. Traders have said the move could kill off their business.