Burnt Tree pledge by bosses

Friday 28th August 2009, 11:30AM BST.

wd3405861aerial-11-tt-27Traffic snaking back as far as the eye can see – this is the morning commute faced by workers passing through Burnt Tree island.

But council bosses in Dudley have promised congestion will ease over the bank holiday weekend.

They said all temporary traffic lights would be removed.

Road cones were also set to be lifted from New Birmingham Road and Birmingham Road this afternoon to help drivers heading off on their bank holiday travels.

The works will then start up again on Tuesday from 7am.

Councillor Angus Adams, cabinet member for transportation at Dudley Council, said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused while these major works are taking place but we have taken the decision to remove all traffic management over the busy bank holiday. We would though remind people the work will start up again on Tuesday morning.”

Following the bank holiday weekend two-way temporary traffic lights will be in place on the A461 Burnt Tree Road for four days as underground work is done.

Meanwhile the slip road from the A4123 New Birmingham Road to the A461 Birmingham Road towards Dudley will be closed for approximately four weeks from Tuesday.

The £12.3 million joint project between Dudley and Sandwell councils will see the island transformed from a five-arm roundabout into a new four-arm traffic signal controlled crossroads. Work will take 21 months.


  1. 1
    angry motorist

    Why have there been miles of cones laid out on the A4123? There doesn’t seem to be any reason other than to create delays and frustration for motorists. Workmen standing about looking into holes seems to be the order of the day – ridiculous!

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Martacus Red

    So basically the cones & lights will be back after the Bank Holiday.
    That gesture is really big of them

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Jim G

    How can it take 21 months to flatten a traffic island and put 4 sets of lights in its place???????

    I wonder if someone is being paid on a daily bases rather than for the work involved in getting an excavator to remove the traffic island, lay a hardcore base, Tarmac it and lay the cables for the new traffic lights ?????

    Jim of Bearwood

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Tom Stokes

    The current works are all to do with service suppliers (gas, electricity, water) getting in first to sort their bits out before Dudley Council take over to remove the Island and replace it with cross roads, the Tividale Road will then become one way.

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Fonzy

    They need to get a polish firm on it, job would be completed in 2 weeks. If you ever get the chance of being stuck in the roadworks at burnt tree, just have a good look at the workers that are never working, it’s very amusing, this is why the job will take 21 months.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    dudleybaggie

    I have it on good imformation that tesco is bringing the building of then new superstore forward because of the congestion at the moment

    Friends of dudley town centre

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Callipygian

    - from the comments made so far,it is clearly evident that the majority of E+S readers have superior expertise in the project management of civil engineering/highway schemes than Dudley MBC,their Consultants and Contractors employed to undertake this difficult work.
    -power to the people,smash the cistern,we do not know what we want but we want it now!

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Tividale Expat

    Over here in the US we call it & sing the song the “Orange Barrel Polka” when they put the orange cones out. Also I am willing to bet,over there – that in the lanes which are closed, drivers try to pull as close to the end as possible, then try to merge into the line of traffic thus slowing down the flow AND I bet there are NO police out there issuing tickets to them – I can remember when Burnt Tree was a small island, in a sea of tranquility -Happy CRANK Holiday :)

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    Jim G

    Callipygian always remember Dudley MBC,their Consultants and Contractors who are the experts, built Burnt Tree island in the first place, so why if they are the experts why are they having to do it again?????

    Remember an expert built the Titanic!!!!!

    Jim of Bearwood.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    John

    Such bad planning has had a terrible impact on the local economy, not to mention the suffering to local residents. Burnt Tree island is but one example – my friend lives in that area and every single direction is traffic mayhem. It’s almost like Sandwell wants to become the laughing stock of Europe, and beyond. Life’s too short for this rubbish folks.

    Report abuse



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