Bridge is open after 3 months

A busy road has re-opened after being closed for three months for £1.1 million work to strengthen a bridge over a railway line.

Part of Leamore Lane, Walsall, has been shut since September for work on the bridge as part of a project between Network Rail and Walsall Council.

The road is used to get from Walsall town centre towards Leamore Enterprise Park and Willenhall Lane Industrial Estate.

Traffic was diverted until the bridge re-opened yesterday. Improvements saw structural elements of the bridge deck replaced to upgrade its capacity.

Network Rail was previously keen on a bridge weight restriction of 17 tons but agreed to hold off to see if cash to strengthen it could be found. Funding was secured from the West Midlands Local Transport Plan and Network Rail did work on behalf of council chiefs.

The project ensures safe access to firms in the Birchills and Leamore area and improves footways.

A 12-month bridge scheme between Bentley and Darlaston will see a new structure in Bentley Road South finished in May.

Drivers are redirected on Willenhall Road and The Crescent go onto Wolverhampton Road West rather than Bentley Road South - regularly used by lorries.