10 mile detour hell for drivers

Motorists may face ten-mile detours around a major gateway road to Kidderminster during roadworks at Torton, near Hartlebury, they have been warned.

Worcestershire County Council announced today it would be carrying out drainage and resurfacing work costing £167,000. They also plan to lay an anti-slip surface on the roadway.

Much of the work is scheduled to be carried out overnight, with the road to Kidderminster being closed from Sunday for two weeks.

But county highways manager Jon Fraser said motorists could face delays and various diversions, including one of more than ten miles via Stourport.

The work is needed because of pipe-laying work carried out by Severn Trent and projects by other agencies.

Mr Fraser said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope that motorists will bear with us while the work is carried out.

"It is necessary because of the work that has recently been carried out by Severn Trent and other utilities," he added.

The announcement will cause concern to motorists as temporary traffic lights at Torton have already led to three-mile tailbacks for traffic to and from Kidderminster.More roadworks are expected to add to the chaos at peak periods.

But fears that motorists in Kidderminster could be hit by a double whammy have been quashed.

Resurfacing work at Comberton Hill - another major gateway into the town from Bromsgrove Road - is due to end tomorrow.

Shopowners and people living in the area are hoping this will mark the end of roadworks which have been carried out over the past two years.

The latest scheme, costing £103,000, started on Monday, and Mr Fraser said that contractors were "getting on well with the project" and that they expected to finish on time.

By Sue Smith