Wolverhampton Pipers Row works 'in final stages' but still no date for completion
Long-running roadworks in Wolverhampton city centre are in their final stages, transport bosses insist, despite the looming deadline.
But a frustrated business leader who has seen "diabolical" levels of trade remains sceptical and thinks the project will overrun.
More than 75 per cent of the work on Pipers Row has now been completed as part of the West Midlands Metro extension which has so far lasted 17 months.
Bosses at the Midland Metro Alliance (MMA) say the work is still on schedule to be complete "this summer" but have failed to give a firm date for its completion.
Work to extend the metro line from the St George's terminal next to the police station on Bilston Street to the city's train station began in March 2018.
A spokesman for the MMA said: "The Midland Metro Alliance is currently delivering improvements to the street environment as part of the Wolverhampton City Centre Metro extension along Pipers Row.
"The work involves the installation of new kerbs, paving and trees as well as new Metro stop furniture like benches and litter-bins and is more than 75 per cent complete.
"The works are still on schedule to complete this summer.”
Drivers entering the city are currently forced to take the long way around, past the Central Library and new outdoor market, while temporary traffic lights are in place next to the bus station where much of the pavement is cordoned off.
'Which August are we talking about?'
Sham Sharma, chairman of the Wolverhampton Business Forum, said businesses needed some "closure" over the works.
He said: "I don't know when they will finish the works.
"It's a welcome move that it will finish, but they never keep to their deadlines – they keep moving them.
"It's overdue. It's taken so long.
"I was assured this would be done at the end of July, then the start of August which is here now.
"People tell you it's going to finish August – but which August are we talking about?
"I understand we need to do the roadworks to have future prosperity, but they don't take into account the suffering small businesses go through.
"We want these works out of the way.
"We just need some kind of closure to this."
Meanwhile, motorists on the Bilston Street ring road are facing further delays due to a road-widening scheme.
Tailbacks have formed on St David's Ring Road due to the construction of three lines in a bid to improve air quality.
The work, which takes place between 9.30am to 3.30pm, ends on August 30.
