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Motorists face delays as busy rail bridge closes

Motorists will face months of delays and diversions as another bridge needs to be rebuilt for the multi-million pound electrification of the rail line through Walsall, it has emerged.

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Network Rail needs to carry out work in North Street, near to the main Walsall College site, starting this autumn.

The route is regularly used by traffic heading towards the college campus and as a cut through to and from Walsall town centre.

It had lead to concerns drivers will be forced into residential areas in narrow streets around The Butts, clogging up roads.

Work is expected to to take place until spring to complete and is part of the overall £30m electrification of the Chase Line. It will enable overhead line equipment to power trains.

Councillor Pete Smith said it would cause potential traffic issues and will be seeking to speak with council officers to ensure these are minimised.

"It will cause a problem," he said. "This is a major thoroughfare to the Butts, to the town and as a short cut to Goscote.

"If you look at the surrounding streets, we are talking about narrow, terraced streets that already seem to be blocked up by parked traffic.

"I am assuming it is one of those things they have got no choice. This electrification job has got to be done.

"At least there is a few weeks for the highways and traffic teams to work out what they can do in the time they will be working on the bridge to minimise the impact on the traffic in the local streets around there."

Firm details of the start date and diversion routes are expected in the coming months.

Network Rail spokesman Jon Crampton said: "As part of the Chase Line electrification programme, North Street bridge will be rebuilt to accommodate overhead line equipment used to power electric trains.

"The work is due to start in the autumn and due to be completed in spring 2015. A full road closure will be needed and a diversion will be put in place. Pedestrian access will be maintained over the railway throughout."

It comes as similar work was carried out on Broad Lane, between Bloxwich and Essington.

Initially it had been hoped the bridge to carry traffic above the line between Walsall and Rugeley would reopen in March after work started last November. But it hit delays and the road re-opened just weeks ago.

The long-term benefits of the electrification scheme will see an improved rail service, speeding up trains from 45-50mph to 70mph by 2017.

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