Tour of Britain warnings

Road closures intended to bring parts of Wolverhampton to a standstill for this week's prestigious Tour of Britain cycle race were revealed today, with drivers warned to stay clear or expect disruption.

Car parks and parts of the Ring Road will shut as a series of road closures come into force tomorrow night, ahead of Wednesdays's event. Thousands will descend on the city centre to see cyclists compete to win the gruelling 95-mile third stage, from Worcester to Wolverhampton.

Today spectators and motorists were warned to allow extra time for their trips.

Tomorrow the Ring Road from Chapel Ash to Penn Road island will be closed anti-clockwise between 10pm and 7.30am on Wednesday, and then from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

From 1.30pm on Wednesday, there will be more closures as riders take to the A454 Bridgnorth Road/Compton Road towards Chapel Ash.

And more roads will shut as the cyclists head towards the finish on the Ring Road between Chapel Ash and Penn Road.

Free parking is being provided at the temporary Raglan Street car park which will give easy access to Market Square and the finish line. Cars and coaches will be directed on to the car park, which will be open between 7am and 6.30pm on Wednesday.

Peel Street and School Street car parks will be shut to public vehicles on the day of the race. Peel Street car park will be open to pedestrians for spectator viewing only.

The short stay Market car park on Peel Street will be open for shoppers using the indoor and outdoor market, but will be closed between 2pm and 3pm.

Transport chief councillor Peter Bilson said today: "An event of this scale is going to cause some disruption. For those coming into the centre to watch the race, we'd say get there early.

"For motorists who need to go to other parts of Wolverhampton, try to avoid those critical times and plan your journey in advance.

"We'll be doing our best to get the roads reopened as fast as we can."

Roads closed on the route

Tuesday into Wednesday, between 10pm and 7.30am, Ring Road from Chapel Ash to Penn Road island will close to traffic in an anticlockwise direction only.

The same stretch will shut between 9.30am and 4.30pm on the Wednesday. Clockwise direction will be open to traffic except between 2pm and 3pm.

From 1.30pm there will be temporary road closures along the A454 Bridgnorth Road/Compton Road to Chapel Ash.

Road closures will affect: Windmill Lane; Henwood Road; The Holloway; Finchfield Hill; Clark Road; Tettenhall Road/Merridale Road junction; Chapel Ash.

Other minor roads along the route will also be affected.

Between 2pm and 3pm, temporary road closures will operate at: Darlington Street to Chapel Ash; Ring Road from Waterloo Road to Penn Road including Chapel Ash; Ring Road from Great Brickkiln Street to the Chapel Ash island and Peel Street.