Walsall road reopened after two years 'will help create jobs'
A Walsall road which has been reopened after more than two years will help pave the way for thousands of new jobs in the Black Country, bosses have claimed.
Bentley Road South in Darlaston has been shut since 2013 but ongoing works, which form part of a wider £26 million programme of infrastructure improvements in the town, were declared finished on Monday.
Two bridges, one over the railway and another over the Walsall Canal, have been revamped while the road has also been widened to benefit cyclists and motorists.
Deputy leader of Walsall Council Adrian Andrew said: "The improvements being completed to the roads in and around the Black Country Enterprise Zone which includes Darlaston will allow 40 hectares of land to be unlocked with the potential for thousands of jobs to be created which will have far reaching benefits for the economy of Walsall."
The final part of the works will see the junction which links the route to Heath Road completed with traffic lights installed.
While similar works further down the canal on Bentley Mill Way where the road is being lowered underneath the James Bridge Aqueduct is still ongoing.
Engineering firm Dawnus has been working on the scheme at Bentley Road South.
Contracts manager Angus Watson said: "The opening of the second section of Bentley Road South signifies another major milestone for the Darlaston Strategic Development Area project.
"Works have already been completed on Bentley Road South, the Darlaston Road / Pleck Road Junction and the conversion of the Bescot Wallows junction from traffic light controlled to a roundabout.
"The Dawnus team are immensely proud to have established strong links with Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, other key stakeholders and the local community to deliver this project.
"This collaboration has been a major contributing factor in delivering this successful scheme. The next milestones to be achieved will be the completion of the Heath Road Junction and Bentley Mill Way which passes through a lowered road through the James Bridge Aqueduct."
The road reopening follows the long awaited end to work at junction 9 for the M6, which was closed for a large chunk of 2015.
