Motorists are causing misery for residents by using a rat run to avoid roadworks at one of the Black Country’s busiest traffic islands.

People living in Oakham Road, Dudley, say the street is clogged with cars during the morning and evening rush hours since work began at Burnt Tree island. They say the increase in traffic is putting lives at risk and has left many residents afraid to cross the road. Queues have also been building up in nearby streets including Dixons Green Road.

The £12.3million scheme to turn Burnt Tree island into a junction with traffic lights began four months ago and is to last 21 months.

Resident Isobel Byrne, aged 60, said: “People are taking their lives in their hands crossing the road. The cars come down the road so fast.Queues start building up at 5am, and it gets really heavy by about 7am. Then it starts again at 3.15pm and is like that for several hours.

“People are just using it as a rat run so they don’t have to go past Burnt Tree and get stuck in traffic. It is a very dangerous road, and we think the council needs to act soon before someone is seriously hurt.”

Councillor Malcolm Davis, wants the council to install safety measures such as a pedestrian crossing.

He said: “There are swarms of traffic. It is hard to pull out of the side roads because the traffic is so backed-up. It is all traffic from Burnt Tree which is having a knock-on effect.

“It really needs sorting out to reduce the traffic on this road.”

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport Councillor Bob Badham said: “We know there is a problem, and our engineers are looking at it with colleagues in Dudley to come up with ideas to improve the situation.”