Works on major Cannock roundabout reaching final stages

The £2.9 million project to re-align lanes and add traffic lights at the Churchbridge junction in Cannock began in July.

The work incorporates three roundabouts connecting the A5, M6 Toll, A460 Cannock Eastern Bypass and the A34.

Roads have mainly been closed overnight during the work but there have also been some lane restrictions during the day, which has seen queues build up at peak times.

The main overnight restrictions have been on the A5 on the approach to Wyrley roundabout, along with the A460, A34 and A5 approaches to the Lodge Lane island.

Highways Agency bosses said the restrictions were only happening overnight to reduce the impact on drivers.

And they have been lifted at weekends to avoid the town becoming clogged with traffic.

The work is expected to finish in January.

Cannock Council leader George Adamson said the disruption caused by the work would be 'worth it in the end'.

He added: "It is a very busy junction but we have been waiting for this work for a long time and it will be much better when it is completed."

The work is part of a national £317 million 'pinch point' improvement programme aimed at reducing congestion across England.

Campaigners have been calling for the junction to be revamped for years, with South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson criticising it for being 'badly designed' and 'causing gridlock at peak times'.

He met Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin last year to push the need for funding, while

Mr Williamson said: "This investment is a major boost for local people and for local business. It should make a difference to this utter mess of a set of roundabouts that have been badly designed and have caused so many problems locally.

"The investment will hopefully sort out many of the longstanding problems."