Major Dudley town centre roadworks are coming to end

The majority of the utility works along Wolverhampton Street have now finished and the route has been reopened to traffic, to the relief of traders.

They said they hoped business would now pick up after their takings were hit by the lack of passing trade.

Parts of Wolverhampton Street, one of the main routes into the town centre and a major access road to Brierley Hill, have been closed since August as part of a wider 18-month scheme which began in April 2011.

It has caused long queues along St James's Road, Priory Road, The Inhedge and Stafford Street during rush hour. Cynthia Burgin, of Burgin's newsagents, said: "I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the main part of the road reopened to traffic again.

"It was not just the traders who were pleased but residents and workers as well. People were telling me it was taking far longer to get home because of the queues. We have started to see a slight upturn in trade since the route was opened up again and hopefully once the word gets out things will improve."

Mohammed Sheaid, of Dudley DIY Centre, said the store had been losing between £300 and £400 a week while the work had been taking place.

"The problem has been that cars have not been able to get down the road and we have lost out on passing trade," he said. Balwant Patel, who runs Gayatri Picture Framing, said he had lost around £100 a week.

Dudley transport councillor Judy Foster said: "We would like to thank traders and motorists for their patience during this essential work and apologise for any inconvenience caused."

By Lee Watton and Heather Large