Weeks of delays as West Bromwich A41 Expressway works go on
Drivers face weeks of delays after roadworks due to last just eight days will continue into the new year, it has emerged.
The underpass at the A41 Expressway in West Bromwich was originally due to be closed for just over a week when repair work started on Monday, but work will continue.
The £25 million road at the gateway to the town centre, which was only completed last November, may now not reopen until January due to defects in the road surface.
At the start of this month engineers moved in to carry out inspections on the road's surface, after water began seeping through the central barriers.
Councillor Maria Crompton, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for highways and environment said today: "It is believed that water coming up from a spring or water source has damaged the road surface.
"It was noticed that water was coming up through the barrier in the middle of the road, so they have taken the road surface off to inspect what lies underneath.
"Because of this the roadworks are going to take longer than expected. I haven't been given a date as to when the work will be completed, but it is likely to continue into the new year."
Yesterday engineers inspected the road and were due to report back to Sandwell Council today. Diversions are already in place, but motorists have still been facing queues on a daily basis while workers continue to repair the defect in the road.
Councillor Crompton added: "We are ensuring that work takes place as quickly as possible. The work does not completely stop traffic and people are still able to use the island to make their way around the works."
Work on the project was funded by the Department of Transport and supermarket giant Tesco, and was meant to improve the flow of traffic into the New Square shopping centre development, as well as acting as a gateway into the town.
