More hold-ups for Wolverhampton drivers as Stafford Road lanes cut
Drivers on one of Wolverhampton's busiest routes face more hold-ups next week after it was announced lanes would be cut as part of a long-running roadworks scheme.
The city's A449 Stafford Road, north of Vine Island is affected.
It will be cut from two to one lane between Tuesday and Friday as works including the installation of new drainage is carried out.
It is part of a £3 million project which will see the Vine Island remodelled over 14 months.
It comes as the Easter getaway began in earnest, with thousands of drivers caught up in chaos on the M6 after a crash, as well as maintenance work on the trains and tram network beginning.
Yesterday motorists were frustrated when a collision on the M6 in Staffordshire set back their travel plans.
The accident between a car and a lorry happened between Junction 14 for Stone and Junction 15 for Stoke-on-Trent just before midday and problems persisted all afternoon.
Wolverhampton's council chiefs say the Stafford Road lane closure will be in place on both the north and southbound carriageway and operate 24 hours a day.
The project will see a new roundabout built as well as new toucan crossings across Stafford Road and Wobaston Road, a shared cycle and footway, a new service road to give safer access to shops and new car park spaces for shoppers and businesses.
Transport chiefs say next week's work will cause some delays for drivers but it has been scheduled for the Easter school holidays to try and minimise disruption.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet member for economic regeneration and prosperity, said: "This is a vital project to support the exciting i54 development which is already creating a host of economic benefits for the city with much more to come. Improving the infrastructure will ensure we are well-equipped to cope with the anticipated increased traffic that the development will bring."
Meanwhile motorists were warned of up to 18 weeks of traffic jams as a £250,000 pipe replacement scheme got under way near the Merry Hill Shopping Centre.
And trains between Wolverhampton and Birmingham stopped running yesterday at 3pm and will not restart until Tuesday as engineering work takes place on the West Coast Main Line.
The Midland Metro tram network also shuts down at the end of service tonight until April 15.
