Plans to close a Black Country main road for two years while major roadworks take place are set to be scrapped following a campaign by businesses and residents.

Traders along the A4033 Tividale Road say they have now been told a one-way system will be put in place to allow traffic to continue to flow along the route while the £12.3 million revamp of the blackspot Burnt Tree Island goes ahead. Council chiefs and contractors say they are still working out details, but are hoping to maintain access along Tividale Road as much as possible.

Shopkeepers and business owners along the road near the border of Sandwell and Dudley had feared their livelihoods could be destroyed if original plans went ahead to close the road in both directions for the duration of the work.

Business and residents representatives met with highways bosses from Dudley Council yesterday who told them the plan was being altered in line with their suggestions.

Traders’ spokesman Gaz Khan, aged 29, of Lifestyle Express newsagents, in Tividale Road, said they were very pleased that their alternative suggestions had been taken on board.

“Due to the campaigning with the petitions and the letters and working very closely with Dudley Council they have understood the problems of the traders and our reasons, and they have said they will accept the one way flow of traffic from the island on to Tividale Road,” he said.

“If there is major work being carried out we may have to accept the road being closed for one day, but no longer.

“I think we have achieved our goal – maybe not fully, but it is better than nothing.”

More than 800 signatures were collected on a petition against a total road closure, and traders wrote to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon.

The five-way Burnt Tree roundabout is to turned into a new crossroads, with work due to start at the end of July and last for 21 months.

Dudley Council spokeswoman Clare Marshall said nothing had been finalised and they were still working out the details.

“We are working with contractors in response to concerns from residents and businesses and our hope is to maintain access as much as possible along Tividale Road,” she said.