Roadworks cause traffic chaos

Roadworks were today causing traffic chaos on a busy roundabout in Wolverhampton – with not a workman in sight.

Four-way traffic lights were set up by BT yesterday morning on the junction of Coalway Road, Warstones Road and Oxbarn Avenue in Penn.

But since then no workmen have turned up to start digging.

Angry shopkeepers near to the roundabout today said the traffic lights were causing queues as far back as Merry Hill and Bradmore.

At busy times in the day, up to 40 cars are having to wait in all directions.

Sarbjit Daley, owner of Sarbs Store, said: "A group of eight or nine men who seem to have been from BT came to set up the lights at 12.30pm yesterday. but have not been back."

He said: "I have been here since 6am and they haven't been back today.

"I can't see the point in them setting the lights up if they are just going to go away. The traffic has been terrible and it is affecting my trade."

Wolverhampton City Council spokesman Gurdip Thandi said today: "The works in Penn are being carried out by BT to fit Broadband. They have set up temporary traffic lights. We've been told they should be finished by the end of this week or into the weekend."

Meanwhile there are also works being carried out along Dudley Road.

Engineers from Severn Trent Water set up along the route on Monday. Those works are due to carry on until August 20 and there are temporary traffic lights in place. BT was unavailable for comment.