Drivers boycott 'nightmare' Cannock roundabout
Motorists are 'boycotting' a £3 million roundabout in Cannock over claims incorrect signage is causing drivers to cut each other up, it is claimed.
One motorist described the problem at the A5 Churchbridge interchange as 'a nightmare'.
Council bosses have been besieged by complaints.
The junction recently underwent a major improvement scheme in order to relieve traffic queues - but drivers say the congestion is worse than ever.
The cause of the problem is new road markings onto the roundabout beside the new TK Maxx store which restrict drivers in lane one to only turning left and those in lane three to only turning right. Previously, both had the option of also going straight on.
It has led to motorists swapping lanes at the last minute, cutting each other up in the process, in order to take the road they need.
Highways England has responded, saying it has reviewed traffic flow at the junction and is bringing back the old road markings.
Councillor Mike Sutherland, who brought the issue to the attention of county highways chiefs after receiving several complaints, said: "This has been a bane to local residents and to everyone who uses the road since the works were completed in April.
"The signage is wrong, you don't have to be an engineer to realise that. I've told the county, and they know it. They've said they'll fix it but they still haven't done anything, and that frustrates me."
The concerns have now been brought before Cannock Chase scrutiny committee which is calling for urgent action.
Councillor Ann Barnard said motorists were boycotting the island because it had become so dangerous to negotiate and driving schools were avoiding the junction altogether.
The county council, which is the transport authority, has referred complaints to Highways England who carried out the work.
The £2.9m revamp was carried out after pressure from local MP Gavin Williamson and former MP Aidan Burley who successfully lobbied the government for pinchpoint cash, a fund set up to relieve key bottlenecks across the UK.
The junction had become an accident blackspot since it was remodelled in 2004 for the opening of the M6 Toll, with traffic queues building up on the A460 during rush hour.
The work included redesigning the approaches to the islands to ease traffic and the installation of traffic lights on three roundabouts.
Highways England spokesman Alistair Harris said: "We are repainting the lanes on the approach to Lodge Lane island around the A5 Churchbridge pinch point scheme. Once finished, the current left-turn-only lane will allow drivers to turn left, or go straight ahead. We expect this work to be complete within the next two weeks."
