Villagers have been warned to expect “absolute and total mayhem” during the year-long construction of a new roundabout.
Three-way traffic lights have been in operation at the bottom of Weights Lane, Bordesley, causing long tailbacks of traffic trying to reach and return from Redditch.
On at least one occasion, the traffic has backed up the Alvechurch bypass towards the M42 junction and even when traffic is relatively light, there are waits of 10-15 minutes each way.
Work is expected to continue until October 2017, building the roundabout at the entrance to the Bovis Homes development opposite the Abbey Stadium running track.
County councillor June Griffiths, who lives close to the works, told Alvechurch parish councillors: “We have some serious hold-ups coming.
“They have started on the roundabout at the bottom of Weights Lane, which caused traffic to clog for miles.
“It also means increased lorries. I don’t mean to frighten anyone, but I do see absolute and total mayhem,” added Coun Griffiths.
Parish councillor Marc Worrall agreed, saying the works would have knock-on effects throughout the area.
“That roundabout is a recipe for disaster. We will have everyone doing rat runs up our lanes. We have got 12 months of purgatory there,” he said.
“They need to rethink it, but I must admit I don’t see an easy solution.”
The roadworks application lodged with the county council states the site working times to be “Normal daytime working hours only”.
When The Village visited the site on Saturday October 22 at around 1pm, the lights were in operation and the traffic was backing up in both directions (above).
The journey from Cobb’s Barn roundabout at the end of the Alvechurch bypass through the lights took 15 minutes and the hold-ups added another 12 minutes to the return journey to Alvechurch.
As Christmas shopping begins in Redditch, the problem is likely to become worse.
Meanwhile, the 200 new homes and proposed 5,000 square metres of office space on the Weights Lane development will swell the tens of thousands of vehicles that pass through Bordesley every day, with the long-promised Bordesley Bypass now little more than a distant dream.
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