Motorists in Dudley face 18 months of traffic chaos as a major programme of roadworks affecting 64 streets in the town centre was unveiled today.

Drivers will have to negotiate a series of diversions as many roads will be closed completely for up to three months at a time when the first phase of the project starts on April 11.

The maintenance and repair work is being carried out by National Grid, South Staffordshire Water, Virgin Media, Severn Trent Water and Central Networks, co-ordinated by Dudley Council.

It includes shutting off main routes through the borough, including Wolverhampton Street, Priory Road, Castle Hill and The Broadway.

A second phase of work, affecting 10 streets including New Street and Birmingham Street, will then begin on October 3.

Cabinet member for transport Councillor Angus Adams today admitted the next year-and-a-half was going to be “a nightmare” for drivers.

“The work is all essential maintenance and upgrading work,” he said.

“The infrastructure in Dudley town centre is very old and it has to be updated.

“If nothing was done, we would have more problems with burst water mains and broken cables.”

He added:”It is going to be a nightmare for a while, but unfortunately it just can’t be helped.

“We have, with the co-operation of the utility companies, orchestrated the work to all happen in one period to minimise disruption as much as possible.

“To do that we have delayed some work and brought forward other work that was scheduled for a future date.”

Some of the roads will also be resurfaced following the completion of work by the companies.

Councillor Adams said the roads would not all be closed at once, with the work being spread out over the next few months.

He promised that residents and traders would be kept “right up to date” with what was happening with daily updates on the council’s website.

While the utility companies carry out repairs, Virgin Media is taking advantage of the opportunity to expand its service in the town centre.