Midland Metro work hit as old mine is found

The shaft was found underneath a section of the Midland Metro line near The Royal stop, on the A41 Bilston Road.

Originally scheduled to open in November, The Royal is now not set to open until early December.

No announcement will be made on when the main St George's terminus in Bilston Street will re-open until bosses know how long it will take to deal with the problem.

Transport authority Centro, which is carrying out the £4.5 million track replacement programme, must now examine the shaft and determine what is at the bottom before it can be filled.

Midland Metro programme director Paul Griffiths said: "We regret the delay but the discovery of this shaft is the latest in a string of complications.

"Unfortunately with an operational tram route it is not possible to have a full picture of what is in the ground until services have been stopped and the old track removed.

"However once work is complete we will have a rail in place that will have a working life of 30 years and a track formation that will provide a reliable service into Wolverhampton."

The mine workings were discovered as workmen dug into the ground to prepare foundations for the new track, running from The Royal to a rebuilt St George's.

It is thought to be a remnant of coal, limestone or iron ore mine works which date back to the industrial revolution.

Mr Griffiths said it was known there may be old workings in the area but the scale of what was found came as a surprise.

"It is one of those situations where, while you might suspect there is something there, you are completely in the dark until you start digging up the ground.

"There is a history of minor settlement under the track in this section and, while it has not been an issue in the past, for this replacement programme we are digging deeper in this area to remove old parts of the rail and the associated foundations.

"It is a problem that we cannot ignore - the ground will have to be excavated then filled in properly to provide a strong and durable base for the track."

The discovery is the latest in a number of complications that have had affected the scheme's timetable since work began in September this year.

To tackle the delay, contractors have been working longer hours and putting extra teams on the project.

Work between Priestfield and St George's started in September and was due to last 12 weeks.

It has seen roads and lanes closed, while tram users have to get off at Priestfield and catch a bus into the city centre.

The Royal stop will open in the first week of December, while there is no date set for St George's reopening, although it should be soon after.

Issues that have caused the delays include underground utilities not being in the locations that transport authority Centro were led to believe, and the strength of the slabs currently in place.