Hundreds of homes and businesses were left without power in Walsall for up to an hour when workers on the multi-million pound ring-road scheme damaged a cable.
More than 700 premises, including Walsall College and The Saddlers Centre, were affected after contractors on the £17 million project struck an underground cable along Blue Lane West just before midday yesterday.
It is the latest problem caused by the project which has created months of misery on the roads. It started in the summer of 2006 and drivers have been faced with jams ever since.
A finishing date has been set for December this year but fears have been voiced that it may not be completed until January. It also emerged today that the opening of Hatherton Street has been delayed for a third time.
A total of 727 homes and businesses were hit by the power cut at around 11.40am, and power was restored to 159 people by 12.10pm. E-on workers were called out and ensured all electricity in the town centre area was back on by just before 1pm.
Councillor Anthony Harris, cabinet member for transport said: “We apologise for any inconvenience this caused.”
He also admitted Hatherton Street South at the junction of Littleton Street was not opened in time for the latest 4pm deadline yesterday. He added: “I’m afraid we couldn’t open the Hatherton Street and Littleton Street, Walsall junction as we had planned. We’re intensely frustrated about this but there were underground water leaks which put the opening back.”
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