Wolverhampton’s controversial red route will remain in place for at least a few more months, the Express & Star can reveal today.

Transport chiefs say officers who are reviewing the future of the A449 Stafford Road route will not be able to prepare a report to city council bosses until the summer.

They are currently leafing through all the public comments on the red route and examining date on traffic flows to see if the £1.7 million project has eased congestion.

It means the red route, which has been criticised by residents and traders, will stay in place past the original 12-month pilot which expires this month.

Councillor Peter Bilson, deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We are coming towards the end of the trial month, but lots of data has to be looked at which measures traffic flows along the route.

“We’ve also got to take into account the anecdotal evidence and the comments that have been made.”