Drivers prevented from entering Wolverhampton city centre due to more works
A city centre junction where there have been long tailbacks in recent weeks will now be closed to traffic for a month.
Traders and councillors have spoken out over the continued Midland Metro extension works which are set to prevent drivers from travelling into the city centre via Pipers Row.
Work to continue to replace and extend the Midland Metro line began in June this year and is expected to be complete by Christmas.
Now the latest work, due to begin on Monday, will see the right turn from Bilston Street into Pipers Row crossing over the tram tacks, closed.
A statement on the Midland Metro Alliance website said: "From Monday, October 2, the right hand turn from Bilston Street onto Pipers Row will be closed and vehicles wishing to access Pipers Row will need to follow a clearly signed diversion route from Bilston Street Island onto St. George’s Parade turning right onto Garrick Street, right onto Bilston Street where vehicles will be able to make a final left turn onto Pipers Row.
"This lane closure will be in place for a period of four weeks."
Already, drivers have seen lengthy tailbacks along both Pipers Row on approach to the Bilston Street Island, and from the other direction.
Buses are also already diverted to prevent putting pressure on the junctions and more may be put in place for services that cross into Pipers Row from Bilston Street.
Now people are fearful of yet more motoring misery as the new works will restrict yet another entry point into the city, according to councillors.
Speaking of the latest works, Conservative leader, Councillor Wendy Thompson, said: "I have never come across such a mess in all my life.
"The people that use that turning are people who are employed in the city, people who are looking to come into work.
"These are professional people who we cannot say are unobservant, yet they seem to be faced with ever increasing traffic problems and restrictions, coming into Wolverhampton saying 'where do I go? Where do I park? Am I in a bus lane? What can I do?'
"This is an absolute mess and is making the hard-working people of Wolverhampton dread their journeys into work."
Not only this, but as part of the ongoing works, Bilston Road will close fully overnight on Sunday, October 1 to allow the traffic management changes to be made.
This stretch of the A41 will close just after midnight and will re-open for traffic leaving the city at 7am.
Abi Hatipoglu of Coffee Express based on the A41 Bilston Road said: "I don't know whythey are doing the works all at once.
"Closing off this latest turning in the run up to Christmas is going to stop people from going into the city centre for shopping.
"Even before these works, there was not lots of people shopping in the city centre, so now the situation is only going to get worse.
"Traders like myself have lost from 50 to 80 per cent of our trade and some have had to close down. This may happen to traders in the city centre now too."
Speaking about the works, Alejandro Moreno, Midland Metro Alliance director, said: “We do appreciate everyone’s patience whilst we are carrying out these important works and I am delighted to say we are on schedule to complete our works by Christmas.
"We will continue to communicate with affected residents and businesses in advance of this next stage of the works in order people can find alternative routes around the city.”
A Wolverhampton council spokesman said: “We aim to minimise disruption to commuters, residents and businesses on any scheme delivered by the council or its partners.
“This Midland Metro Alliance project to extend the Metro will provide long-term benefits to the transport network, helping drive investment and jobs in Wolverhampton.”
