By james art EXTRA manpower and Saturday work are being deployed in a bid to speed up roadworks on Birmingham Road in Stratford.
The works, which run from the A46 Bishopton roundabout to Birmingham Road, require the A3400 exit lane to be closed. The increase in resources should ensure both lanes of Birmingham Road reopen as early as possible in November, with the access road from St Peter’s Way also planned to be fully reinstalled at that time.
The move comes after an urgent plea from Stratford MP Manuela Pertegella to meet Warwickshire County Council to deal with roadworks chaos in the town.
The re-opening of the road for the next stages of works will see a temporary two-way traffic system using narrow lanes on Birmingham Road installed, along with temporary traffic signals as required.
WCC Member for North Stratford, Coun Tim Sinclair, said: “I have been pushing for the team to get an extra resource allocated to this project since the works started, so I am extremely pleased to see that the extra group and Saturday work has been delivered. to keep the project on track.
“The county council listened to residents and heard their concerns. I personally feel full sympathy for them and for the businesses that suffered from the road repair.
“We are committed to trying to alleviate the situation where possible, as seen by the removal of traffic management to support Stratford Mop. Some of the congestion that the city center unfortunately suffers from has been greatly exacerbated by the emergency work required by utility companies. While I appreciate that this work needs to be done, the WCC urges them in the strongest possible terms to minimize any future impact on traffic in the town centre.
He added that he was looking forward to the timely completion of this stage of the works and both lanes of Birmingham Road, along with access to St Peter’s Way, being open.
Phase 2 of the Birmingham Road Improvements Scheme will provide improved drainage, widening of the carriageway at the Bishopton roundabout on the outbound side to better facilitate egress, a new shared cycle lane and footpath from Worths Way to the Squirrels Street entrance, the footpath on the inbound side widened to become an improved shared use space, a new safe crossing over Birmingham Road and a new bus shelter.