'Inefficient' Midland Metro work slows down Wolverhampton city centre
Bus passengers and drivers have hit out at delays due to roadworks along a major city centre route.
People travelling out of Wolverhampton city centre and along Pipers Row say work on the Midland Metro line is adding up to half an hour to their already long peak-time journeys.
The delays are the latest impact of Midland Metro line works along the Row which are due to continue for five months.
A41 Bilston Road closed: How Wolverhampton Midland Metro work affects you
Ann Clarke, aged 68, of Lanesfield, catches the 81 bus to her home from the city centre regularly.
She said: “I think it’s dreadful. I don’t know why they don’t just move the bus stop to take out that bit when the bus pulls out onto Pipers Row.
“It only comes every half an hour and with the delay it seems like they miss one out so you end up waiting an hour.
“I have emailed the company several times before all this work asking why they can’t bring in a new bus stop even in the city centre to make it less of a walk for me and my grandchildren. But now it’s even worse.”
Another traveller from Wolverhampton, who wished not to be named said: “I have not been into the city centre for shopping or anything else in the last eight months.
“I usually travel by the Metro but my usual stop is closed so I’m having to get the bus.
Dozens of cones have been set out to close off lanes either side of Piper’s Row junction with Bilston Street.
Leader of the Conservatives in Wolverhampton, Councillor Wendy Thompson, has labelled the roadworks ‘inefficient’ as motorists and bus travellers struggle to negotiate the latest round of works.
The works began on July 23 and have seen cones close off the left side lane out of the city centre and the nearside lane on approach to the ring road.
“It seems that there has been no planning at all as everything seems to be happening all at once,” Councillor Thompson said.
“It’s totally inefficient and is leaving drivers and travellers frustrated.”
As part of the works, the A41 Bilston Road remains closed to vehicles looking to enter the city, though people can still exit using this route. Work on the Bilston Road is due to be completed by December.
A spokesman for the Midland Metro Alliance said: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience the travelling public has experienced. In response to initial problems we have made some changes.”
A National Express West Midlands spokesperson said: “We are sorry for delays experienced on our bus services during the Pipers Row improvement works. We continue to work closely with the Midland Metro Alliance to minimise disruption.”
