Misery as roadworks go on

Roadworks that have frustrated Stafford motorists for months and led to complaints from businesses over loss of trade will not be completed until the end of October.

Work on the B5066 Sandon Road started at the end of June as part of a wider programme of gas main replacement.

Some traders claimed shoppers had been avoiding the area because of the works and they had seen a big drop in takings.

Contractors have had to introduce overtime and weekend working in a bid to speed up the work which has caused traffic misery for motorists.

The work has seen some roads in the area closed and others reduced to one-way.

Sandon Road has now returned to two-way traffic up to its junction with Astonfields Road.

The £650,000 gas mains replacement and resurfacing has seen Staffordshire Highways working with mains utility companies to improve the highway and maintain vital gas and electricity supplies in the area.

Staffordshire Highways has been co-ordinating the project.

Spokesman Jeremy Herbert said that Browning Street was now completely re-opened, but works on Sandon Road up to Beaconside – and Gaol Road were still to be completed.

"The whole project is due to be completed by the end of October.

"All the complete road closures have now been done, but one-way opening is continuing in Sandon Road.

"We are on target and doing everything we can to finish on schedule, but it may be dependent on the weather we get in October," he explained.

Hugh Barnes, of Browse Antiques, in Sandon Road, had threatened legal action after his business fell by 90 per cent.

County council cabinet member for highways Councillor Mike Maryon has thanked businesses, residents and motorists for being patient and understanding.

He said the project was taking a great deal of organisation to co-ordinate.

A separate £1 million project to pedestrianise Bridge Street in Stafford town centre is due to be completed in November. Staffordshire Highways has also been to upgrading the gas mains and road surfaces on Newport Road. Almost £600,000 is being invested in revamping the busy stretch of the Newport Road from West Way to the M6 overbridge.