End of the road for £300k safety work

The end of work on a £300,000 road safety scheme to cut speeds on a busy Staffordshire road is in sight.

County highways bosses say roadworks on the A5190 Lichfield Road, Cannock, are scheduled to finish on April 17.

Work has been under way between the railway bridge and Leacroft Island, since January and has involved improving the junction of Devon Road with Lichfield Road to make it safer for vehicles turning in and out of the road. The work has included widening the junction.

It has also involved installing traffic lights to control the flow of traffic turning. The final stage of the works will be resurfacing of the Lichfield Road between the railway bridge and Leacroft Island which will start from April 6.

Tom Hobbins, a spokesman for Staffordshire Highways, said: "The last part of the programme of works after all the signalling has gone in and the road will be resurfaced.

"The final piece will take place from April 6 to 17 and Lichfield Road will be reduced to one lane controlled by traffic lights as the resurfacing takes place.

"There will be signs going up to tell people in the area about what's going on and when it will take place."

County Councillor Dennis Dixon said: "This scheme will really make a difference to people. Lichfield Road is a very busy stretch and it is often difficult to find a gap to pull out of Devon Road in a safe manner.

"This scheme will eliminate any need for motorists to carry out manoeuvres that may put themselves or other people in danger."

Almost nine out of 10 of local residents and businesses voted in favour of the works being undertaken during a public consultation, although representatives of Rumer Hill Residents' Association hope they will not encourage drivers to use Devon Road and Rumer Hill Road as a short-cut or rat-run between Lichfield Road and Walsall Road.