Month of roadworks misery to hit Wolverhampton motorists

Wolverhampton council has announced it will carry out the works in the Upper Penn, Warstones and Bradmore areas of Wolverhampton from next week.

Council chiefs said the time of the works has been planned during the school holidays to minimise disruption.

The resurfacing work, a spokesman said, was much-needed before the roads fell into disrepair.

Letters have been sent to residents and businesses about the work.

Coalway Road, from Warstones Road to the busy Five Ways Island, in Upper Penn will be the first to close, before it is closed from Warstones Road to Penn Road.

This will happen in two phases from July 24 to August 25, from 9am to 4pm on weekdays.

Also to close is Penn Road, from Stubbs Road and Witton Road, on July 30 and August 6 - including the busy junction at Coalway Road and Goldthorn Hill, from 7am to 7pm.

Warstones Road, between Coalway Road and Warstones Drive, in Warstones will be closed from August 7 to August 25, from 9.30am to 3.30pm on weekdays. The stretch includes the access to Warstones Primary School.

Finally, the junction of Oxbarn Avenue and Trysull Road in Bradmore, where the Gunmakers Arms is situated, will be closed on August 13 and August 20 from 7am to 7pm.

The work s being financed by the Department for Transport Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund.

Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for environment, said: “It is important to stress that finance for these works will come from the Department for Transport Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund.Due to the large number of residential properties in these areas we are unable to carry out these works overnight.

"But we will be working during off-peak hours only and during the school holidays to minimise disruption.

“I apologise in advance for any inconvenience the works may cause residents and businesses but carrying out these works now will make good these roads for many years to come and should prevent larger scale works in the future, which would have resulted in a much larger bill.”

Residents, drivers and business owners are to face a month of misery as road works start along major routes.

People living in the Warstones area of Wolverhampton will be affected by the works, along with those in nearby Penn.

The council is to close a series of roads in both directions to traffic so that they can work on resurfacing the roads.

The closures could impact businesses in the area which range from restaurants, garages, post offices and supermarkets.

It will all start from next Monday, July 24 and last until August 25. Business owners have been notified by the council about the plans.

Noyon Miah, of Balti Palace, based on Trysull Road, said: “This is going to have a major impact on my business.

“Where are my deliveries going to go? The majority of my business is takeaways - how are the drivers going to get to where they need to?

“It’s going to delay people getting their food, and if you had to wait a long time for your takeaway, you wouldn’t want it would you?

“I think the council should have consulted us before doing this.

“If the road is really that bad then fair enough, but I don’t think it is, and it’s my main route in and out of work everyday,”

Coalway Road is to close in both directions between the junction of Warstones Road and Five Ways Island. It is also to close in both directions from its junction with Penn Road.

The closure will be in place from 9am to 4pm on weekdays with a diversion set up via Oxbarn Avenue and Trysull Road. The Penn Road diversion will see motorists travel along Stubbs Road and Birches Barn Road.

Not only this, but Warstones Road is going to will close in both directions between the junction of Coalway Road and Warstones Drive. This closure will run from August 7 to August 25 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Fortunately, the works will begin after schools have broken up for the six weeks’ holiday.

Councillor Patricia Patten, Conservative councillor for Penn ward said: “This is something that has to be done. Surely they will keep the access routes open for business. We need to keep our roads up to scratch as we always have so many complaints about pot holes and things like that.

“I do feel for the businesses but I’m sure the council will work as quickly as they can to resurface the roads. It’s one of these things that whenever you do it causes disruption and backlash but it needs to be done.”

Then the final phase of the works will see Oxbarn Avenue and Trysull Road closed in both directions between Rowan Crescent and Wenlock Avenue. Church Road will close in both directions between Bamber Close and Glenmore Close from August 13 to 20 from 7am till 7pm on Sundays.