Misery for drivers as water main work starts

Drivers face weeks of misery as part of West Bromwich town centre is shut for water main repairs from today. The work is being carried out by South Staffordshire Water.

Traffic lights will be switched off with temporary signals installed while water main work gets under way at the junction of High Street, St Michael's Street and New Street.

The work will hit motorists attempting to drive through the town centre. It is scheduled to last for two weeks. It comes as drivers are already tackling delays while work progresses on the A41 Expressway underpass scheme.

While the latest work takes place permanent traffic signals will be switched off and replaced by a temporary four-way system that will only allow traffic to travel in one direction at a time. It is expected that at peak times traffic congestion will be unavoidably severe.

Journey times for bus services to and from West Bromwich Bus Station travelling via St Michael's Street and High Street will also be affected by the work. During the first phase, buses turning left from St Michael's Street into High Street will have to use the opposite lane under signal control.

Sandwell councillor Derek Rowley said: "We ask that people do bear with us as this is all part of the improvements of West Bromwich."