Helpers for motorists ahead of Wolverhampton city centre road overhaul

A section of Princess Street in Wolverhampton City Centre will become a no-go zone for traffic from Saturday when road closures are put in place as Wolverhampton City Council makes it pedestrianised.

In addition, motorists heading along Queen Street will no longer be able to drive towards the heart of the shopping centre, but will instead be directed towards the city's bus station.

The changes come into effect this Sunday.

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To help drivers and commuters to get to around the new network, it has been revealed that staff from the city council, Centro and National Express will be on the streets from Friday until the following Tuesday.

Spokesman for the council Tim Clark said: "Over the weekend when the works are being carried out there will be council, contractor and traffic management staff in place to advise motorists and deal with any issues that arise. By Sunday, the new road signs will be in place as per the new road layout, there will also be signs advising of new road layout ahead.

"Centro and National Express are proposing to have staff on hand to advise on the changes to public transport from Friday until Tuesday in addition to notices on bus shelters."

Bus services will be effected by the changes but the extent of the changes has yet to be revealed by Centro and National Express.

Centro confirmed they will have members of staff on the city centre streets.

Mr Clark added: "The new road layout will be very clearly signed and drivers will be expected to obey the signs as per the highway code. If any enforcement activity is required, it would be the police's responsibility to enforce traffic offences and the council is responsible for parking offences."

The biggest changed to the revamp of the city's street is in Princess Street where the road between Berry Street and Queen Street will be pedestrianised.

It will be in place between 9.30am to 4pm with only service vehicles allowed to use the road outside of that time - a similar system to Dudley Street.

Parking bays in Berry Street are in the process of being removed and new traffic signals, including pedestrian crossings, are being installed at the junction of Queen Street and Pipers Row, opposite the bus station.

The council say its wants better links between the retail quarter of the city centre and the bus and rail stations.

Earlier this year it completed a revamp of Queen Street which included widening of the footpaths and resurfacing of the road.