Wolverhampton motorists driven mad: Drivers sent on one-mile diversion around city centre by wrong road signs
Drivers were mistakenly sent on a one-mile diversion around Wolverhampton city centre after road signs saying a major route was closed were mistakenly left on display.
Signs stating Bilston Street island was shut were still visible on Monday and Tuesday, despite the roundabout being re-opened over the weekend.
It meant drivers travelling into the city centre from Stafford Street drove anti-clockwise around the ring road to get to Bilston Street – a journey of 1.6 miles compounded by congestion. The normal journey in the clockwise direction is 0.6 miles.
The roundabout had been closed over the weekend and is due to partially close again from 7pm on Friday evening, with no access to Bilston Street. It will reopen 6am on Monday.
Centro spokesman Mark Langford said: "We realise this work is causing some diversions and delays. This work has to be done because otherwise the Metro track will deteriorate.
"We are trying to do the bulk of the work over the weekends to keep disturbance to a minimum.
"We apologise that these signs have been left on display, but we ask motorists to bear with us as this scheme will bring huge benefits to the city centre."
With the biggest overhaul of roads in decades taking over Wolverhampton city centre coinciding with a major upgrade of the tram network, motorists have already faced weeks of delays and diversions.
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The disruption has been confusing enough without misleading signage. And to add extra misery, the weekly list of roadworks in the city on the council's website is showing out-of-date information.
Centro's tram works in the city are due to continue for another six weeks, and the overhaul of roads in centre by Wolverhampton City Council will stop at the end of November to ease the pressure around Christmas before restarting in the new year.
In the city centre, a £1.4 million scheme to pedestrianise a section of Princess Street, reverse the direction of traffic on Queen Street, and make Market Street one way has been taking place. Traffic that would have used Stafford Street to enter the city has been redirected to Bilston Street, sections of which have been closed in recent weeks.
The council has implemented the changes in a move to make the city centre more pedestrian-friendly, with better access to and from the city's train and bus stations. The main tram stop in Wolverhampton has been closed off as part of a £4.5 million upgrade. The badly-worn tracks on the A41 Bilston Road are being taken out and replaced and the St George's stop will be lengthened so two of the new Urbos 3 trams can stop.
Centro says the revamp will help the Metro maintain a 99 per cent reliability rate while offering passengers a quieter and smoother ride.
Diversions to the city centre's road network has been changing on a weekly basis.
Last week, motorists entering the city from the Bilston Street island were being diverted along St George's Parade and Garrick Street, past the library and Wulfrun Centre after the right turn into Pipers Row was closed to allow tram lines to be dug up.
Next week, a 200m stretch of Bilston Road approaching the roundabout will see lane closures on both sides of the carriageway from October 27 through to October 30. A one-way traffic system is also in place on Garrick Street, with work set to continue until the end of November, and bus stops on Queen Street and Princess Street have been shut down.
Councillor Wendy Thompson, leader of the city's opposition Conservative group, has already expressed concern about the impact the latest round of roadworks would have on businesses in the city.
Jewellers T A Henn, E Marsh upholsterers, and Home and Office Stationers all said trade had fallen significantly since work began on alterations to the city's road layout in August.
