Warning on months of misery

Major roadworks to repair flood damage on a busy stretch of the A5 near Cannock could cause misery for motorists.

The Highways Agency has revealed plans to carry out resurfacing work on the vital trunk road after recent floods which damaged the carriageway near to its junction with Gailey Lea Lane.

The agency is also planning to install an anti-skid surface with the project costing a total of £25,000.

During the month-long work a decreasing speed restriction will be imposed from 50mph down to 30mph and then 10mph on the A5 east Junction 12 of the M6. There will also be a ban on vehicles overtaking and a lay-by adjacent to the work will be closed.

The roadworks will be carried out overnight and are scheduled to take place between the hours of 8pm and 6am and will start on March 25.

The A5 is an important commuter route from South Staffordshire to the M6 and to the A449 in Gailey to Wolverhampton.

Transport bosses have said work is essential to repair flood damage to the road surface caused by heavy rains.

During the downpours in early February a culvert beneath the A5 became blocked which caused floodwaters to gather on the road where it is still causing problems.

At its worst the water stretched almost to the centre line of the carriageway causing vehicles including lorries to swerve into on-coming traffic.

Jo Carroll, spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "We are doing the work because there was damage caused to the surface of the road.

"There is a balancing pool that allows water to pass under the carriageway but the culvert became blocked which resulted in an overflow."