Traffic chaos on way as Swan roundabout shuts

Repairs to the road surface near the Swan roundabout on the Black Country New Road will see the roads shut for nearly 24 hours on-and-off from Saturday evening to early Monday morning.

Sandwell Highways have revealed the busy junction - near Bristol Street Motors and the town's Premier Inn - will be shut over the weekend for 'resurfacing' and 'road marking'.

Roads bosses have said the road will be closed from 6.30pm on Saturday until 4am on Sunday - before reopening for four hours then closing again from 8am to 12pm.

Engineers will then be back on the scene from 6pm on Sunday until 4am on Monday.

UKIP Councillor Philip Garrett said there was no doubt the work would cause 'disruption' - and he hoped it would be completed within the allotted time.

Councillor Garrett said he hopes the roadworks do not feed into the morning rush hour.

He told the Express & Star: "They just need to make sure that it's done within the time.

"It's obviously going to be a pain for people as that's a very busy road and there will be disruption.

"But sometimes I suppose work has to be done and there's no way around it.

"I always think it's best to shut the road down for a period of time rather than doing it piecemeal.

"The work just needs to be done as fast as practically possible.

"Hopefully this will be okay - as long as it goes on for a few days rather than a few weeks."

A Sandwell Highways statement said: "In order to facilitate carriageway resurfacing work Swan Roundabout on the Black Country New Road will be closed on Saturday, May 21 from 6.30pm to 4am and on Sunday, May 22 from 8am to 12pm.

"The road will reclose on Sunday evening (May 22) at 6pm to 4am for road marking works.

"Traffic will be diverted via Black Country New Road, Old Meeting Street, Black Lake, Hill Top, New Street, Harvills Hawthorn, Bagnall Street, George Henry Road, Black Country New Road - and vice-versa.

"Access for emergency service access will be maintained unless it is unsafe to do so."