Speed limit on Stafford Road will be cut to 20mph

Council bosses say they are bringing in the new limit on a half-mile stretch of the A449 Stafford Road in Wolverhampton to protect workers and drivers during the 14-month £3 million works, which will see the Vine Island remodelled. The roundabout is being changed from a lozenge shape to a circular shape. The current speed limit on the road is 40mph.

Work is being carried out to increase the number of lanes at each entrance to the roundabout and also provide enough room for an increase in traffic expected to the i54 business park, where Jaguar Land Rover is creating a new factory.

Council chiefs had previously said they would keep the road's 40mph limit in place during the works but that they would look to drop it if drivers were not being sensible.

Wolverhampton City Council spokesman Gurdip Thandi said: "As the major Vine Island Improvement Scheme progresses, the layout of Stafford Road will change.

"To ensure the safety of motorists, we have reduced the speed limit to 20mph to help them negotiate the changes to the road layout.

"By reducing the speed limit, we will also be increasing the safety of contractors' workforce working on the site whilst we are maintaining access for motorists," he added.

The Stafford Road currently also has a lane closure in place from between 9.30am and 3.30pm each day, as part of the works programme.

As part of the works, traffic coming from Bee Lane will be banned from turning right on to Stafford Road while plans have also been unveiled to install speed humps on Bee Lane.

Plans released by Wolverhampton City Council show that around 12 parking spaces will be created for shops on the Vine Island in Fordhouses.

Currently, cars have to pull in off the roundabout to access the Co-op and other stores.