Drivers facing two weeks of traffic chaos due to new roadworks scheme
Drivers are facing huge disruption along the A449 with roadworks set to last for more than two weeks.
Two separate schemes will take place on the Stourbridge Road stretching from the edge of Wolverhampton down to Wombourne.
Lane closures will be in place for the rest of this week before a larger resurfacing scheme gets under way next week.
Evening and overnight road closures will then come into force, leaving motorists facing massive detours.
Parts of the dual carriageway will be restricted to a single lane between the Penn Road roundabout and Wombourne this week as repairs are carried out on street lights and signage along the route.
Then from Monday, the main resurfacing project will begin. The work will be carried out in two phases along the A449, with road closures in force between 8pm and 6am. The whole scheme is expected to last until August 11, with drivers warned they face major disruption. There will be no work over the weekend, from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7.
The southbound section of the route will be closed off first from Monday, August 1 between Lloyds Hill Island and Beggars Bush Road.
Both Billy Buns Lane and Wodehouse Lane will also be closed at the junction with Battlefield Island during the works.
The following week, attention will turn to the northbound side.
It will mean drivers coming from the direction of either Wolverhampton or Stourbridge will have to take long diversions through Sedgley or find an alternative route.
Staffordshire County Council said the work - which is part of a £230,000 investment in its roads - would make 'significant improvements' to the network. Highways chiefs also said the work would be carried out with the 'minimum of disturbance to the local community'.
And with the work taking place from 8pm, they are hopeful it will cause as little disruption as possible.
Kingswinford councillor Patrick Harley said the roadworks would cause problems for drivers but that improvements to the road were needed.
He said: "The roadworks are essential. Both authorities in Dudley and Staffordshire have been liaising and they have got to try and get it done with the minimum impact on people.
"It is never easy having to divert people, it is always causing chaos but unfortunately it needs to be done."
