Work will start on a major £25 million underpass scheme in West Bromwich in just over a week, it has emerged. Up to 18 months of delays are expected.

Construction will get under way on the congestion-busting underpass on the A41 Expressway on June 7.

The work is expected to cause further jams for drivers in the borough who are already facing long queues around Burnt Tree Island in Tipton where work is ongoing as part of a £12.3m scheme to replace the island with traffic lights.

Construction firm Balfour Beatty has been selected to carry out the project on the A41 which runs alongside the town centre to Junction 1 of the M5.

The Department of Transport recently announced it will invest £22.2 million in the project to divert the A41 Expressway underneath the existing West Bromwich fire station roundabout at its junction with the A4031 All Saints Way.

Supermarket giant Tesco, which is building a multi-million store in the town centre, is contributing £2.2 million towards the project.

The project is planned for completion by late 2011, in time for the opening of the Tesco store.

The existing roundabout will be re-shaped and provide an improved link to the new developments in West Bromwich. There will help for pedestrians and cyclists.