Misery for motorists as roadworks begin

Drivers across the Black Country were today battling against one-way systems, diversions and road closures as councils and contractors made the most of the quieter roads to carry out major works.

The roads are less busy due to the extended school break for Easter, with workmen out in force in Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton. In Walsall, motorists have been hit with another set of major works in Bescot Road, Pleck, due to emergency sewer repairs.

The busy road will be restricted to one-way traffic for two weeks.

The new roadworks are running at the same time as closures, diversions and one-way rules in Lichfield Road, Lindon Road, Brownhills Road and Commonside in Shire Oak. Both schemes are due to finish on April 25.

Meanwhile, it was today revealed that roadworks forming part of an 18-month programme in Dudley town centre will last up to eight weeks each.

Drivers will have to negotiate a series of diversions as many roads will be closed completely as the first phase of the project gets under way tomorrow.

Work on Churchfield Street will run from then until June 14, while Wolverhampton Street will be disrupted from September 24 to November 2.

Workers will be at the adjoining Trinity Road from October 25 to December 9, and then from January 9 to 17. Around 30 business owners have signed a petition, organised by the newly-formed Dudley Town Road Closure Action Group in a bid for talks over the scheme.

In Wolverhampton, temporary traffic lights have been set up on Willenhall Road at its junction with Old Heath Road, as Severn Trent carries out four weeks of pipe work.

Rush-hour traffic heading into the city today stretched back from the lights to the British Oak pub at Willenhall Road's junction with Coventry Street.

Traffic heading out of the city last night was backed up from the lights to Horseley Fields.