HIGHWAYS chiefs say an upgrade to a Lichfield junction will be completed in December.
Work has been taken place at Eastern Avenue as part of a new housing development being built at Watery Lane.
The project has originally been scheduled for completion in November, but Staffordshire County Council has now confirmed it will be finished the following month.
The work has included the creation of additional lanes, new traffic lights, upgraded footpaths and improved drainage.
A Staffordshire County Council spokesperson said:
“So that work to be carried out safely and as quickly as possible, traffic management has been in place throughout the scheme. This has included temporary signals, lane closures and some road closures
“While the scheme had originally been scheduled to finish in November, there has unfortunately been some unforeseen issues with utility company drainage which resulted in a slight scheme redesign.
“Final surfacing and road marking works will take place between 1st December and 12th December. Full overnight closures which be needed each night between 7pm and 7am in both directions and a signed diversion will be in place.
“The improved junction will enable safe and improved access onto Watery Lane and the new Redrow Homes Curborough Lakes development, which will have nearly 470 properties.”
The scheme was due to finish on October the 2nd according to the Counties own road works map! How will traffic needing access to Worcester Close be diverted, we are a cul de sac? And Worcester Close hasn’t been included in the traffic light system so it will be more dangerous for us to access and exit our road. Meanwhile the residents of Worcester Close and other included roads continue to spend ages trying to exit and take their lives in their hands due to the selfish red light jumpers.
Ludicrous. Most days there is no one even there. Their temp traffic lights dont even work half the time.
I’m surprised they can remember what they are doing it has taken so long. There again, having so many days with no one on site hasn’t helped.
We live by this junction and these roadworks have been a nightmare from the start. I’m not critising the roadworks I am critising the level of driving from some drivers. Trying to get out of our close is having to take your life in your hands. The minute the lights turn green there is blasting of horns if you don’t drive quick enough. I have seen drivers racing to get through the lights just as they are changing to red and even when they are red. Ambulances having to wait to get out even with lights flashing. It’s been frightening to watch. Roll on December, then again is that this year or next!
When they say a slight redesign, does that mean there’s actually only going to be one lane running up Eastern ave, and they are doing away with the filter lane for turning right into watery lane? The road at the moment looks very narrow for 2 lanes…or am I being very pessimistic?
The work was due to complete in ‘the summer’, what happened?
We built most of the M1 in under a year (9 months I believe) yet it has taken almost as long to alter 100 yards of existing infrastructure, why?
The traffic hold ups are endless.. all lanes leading onto Eastern Avenue are blocked most days.. in the middle is the Ambulance station.. why not an island instead of lights.. Well done LDC.. a job well done!!!!
I’m sure I can speak for almost everyone that has to use this route when I say this work has dragged on for way too long. The 4 way traffic lights have been a complete nightmare and quite often they just don’t work properly. Pathetic!
How on earth can a road junction take so long to complete? It’s beyond a joke for the local residents who have suffered months of delays and then to be told it’s going to last even longer.
It’s about time penalties were applied to projects that overrun their planned completion dates.
Richard Nelson the complete M1 took 40 years not 9 months the original southern end took 9 years
Is the December deadline for completion quoted in the article this December or December 2030? Methinks it’s more likely the latter.
Until a couple of weeks ago there were signs stating that the temporary traffic lights would be there until summer. We are now told that the original completion date was going to be November. Where was this publicised ? I agree with the comment that the new section of road doesn’t look wide enough, and also that more effort earlier in the project might have helped. We drove past there at various times of day and there was no work whatsoever happening. Talking of which, I travelled on the A38 Northbound last Thursday around 5.30 pm and traffic was tailing back to Weeford Island. This was caused by temporary lights near The Owl due to the Cricket Lane development. Other than the lights there was no obstruction on the road and in my opinion the lights could have been moved to one side to allow traffic to run in both directions. It appears to be just laziness on the part of the contractors. Why aren’t the council involving themselves in this ?
Regarding these roadworks, for those who have worked out that you can bypass these lights by using Curborough Road and going toThe Dr Johnson, we now have to put up with cars exceeding the 20 mph speed limit along Curborough Road .
Junction improvement funded by the developer. But of course widening the railway bridge is never going to happen, even though the developer cashes in on the Watery Lane housing estate- whilst making Watery Lane even busier!!! Developer profit first!