Months of M6 roadworks essential, say highways bosses
Highways bosses have insisted a five-month roadworks scheme on the M6 is 'necessary' following complaints over daily delays and diversions.
Drivers have been caught up in tailbacks following the closure of junction nine's southbound slip-road at Wednesbury.
Many have been venting their anger on social media since the project began on January 5.
But the Highways Agency says it is important maintenance work which needs to be carried out.
The work has also caused extra traffic chaos for shoppers going to the Gallagher Retail Park which is home to IKEA, PC World and Furniture Village.
Councillors in Wednesbury say it's also having an impact on the town centre as drivers try to avoid the queues.
Councillor Pam Hughes, who represents Wednesbury South, said: "There has been a lot of traffic diverted through the town centre causing congestion in the morning and evening. The Axletree Way retail park is just off junction nine of the M6 and it has got its annual sales at the moment, which is causing quite a lot of tailbacks.
"I passed there yesterday and the traffic was queuing back all the way round to Axletree Way and yes, they have got to do their work, but it just seems that there is going to be a lot of disruption in the Wednesbury area.
"It is a very busy junction, but unfortunately I can see that these things have got to be done."
Councillor Bob Lloyd, who also represents Wednesbury South, said the closure of junction nine had resulted in increased traffic along Black Lake and Hilltop because vehicles were coming off at junction one of the M5 and travelling up through West Bromwich.
He added: "I think the closure has had a knock-on effect on the whole area because it does not take much to push it over capacity."
The repair work has begun at junction nine of the M6 southbound stretching to the M5 link at West Bromwich, which is essentially a re-waterproofing scheme.
Joe Wilson, a spokesman for the Highways Agency, said the work was necessary as potholes had been discovered and that traffic flow had improved.
"The requirement for this work has been identified following a high number of maintenance interventions to repair failures of the road surface which have been caused by failure of the waterproofing," he said.
