Fallen trees and flooding causing travel chaos across the Black Country
Fallen trees and flooding caused delays on public transport and traffic jams across the Black Country on Monday evening.
The Met Office has also issued a warning for thunderstorms in the West Midlands.
A tree on the exit slip road of the M5 junction 2 at Oldbury caused queues for more than an hour, before two lanes were shut further south on the motorway due to flooding.
At 7.51pm National Highways: West Midlands tweeted: “2 lanes (of 3) are closed on the #M5 northbound between J3 (#Quinton #Halesowen) and J2 (#Oldbury) due to flooding.
“Traffic Officers are on scene. There are delays of less than 10 minutes and approx. 1 mile of congestion on approach to the incident.”
Another fallen tree in Sedgley has caused delays on the Wolverhampton Road East. National Express tweeted: “Service disruption on Wolverhampton Road East, Sedgley is blocked by a fallen tree
“Service 1 is diverting in both directions via Dovedale Road and George Road.”
A heavy downpour of rain has caused multiple floods which triggered delays to trams and trains. National Express reported services were taking tickets from train passengers whose services had been cancelled.
The company tweeted: “National Express are accepting rail tickets on all bus services. This is due to a large number of cancellations/ delays to rail services. Bus services may be busier than usual.”
On Sedgley Road East, Tipton, cars were marooned in water and Penn Road was hit by flooding.
A driver called in to the Express & Star and said: “I’ve never seen Penn Road like this, it’s like a river.”
“There is a driver on Manor Road which is being helped by the fire service.”
National Express has diverted services due to flooding on Bromford Road near Sandwell and Dudley Railway Station.
They tweeted: “Services 3, 3A, 4, 4H and 4M diverting in both directions via Brandon Way, Albion Road, Oldbury Road and Fountain Way. Flooding on Bromford Road near Sandwell and Dudley.”
In Bilston there were reports of water overflowing along Woodcross Street.
And in Gornal, tarmac on Redhall Road began breaking up, causing holes in the road. Judy Meakin posted in Gornal Watch on Facebook: “Mind if you are coming up Redhall Road – the heavy rain has caused this to happen. It’s cracking all round it too.”
A driver called into the Express & Star and said: "I've never seen Penn Road like this, it's like a river."
"There is a driver on Manor Road which is being helped by the fire service."
Judy Meakin posted in Gornal Watch on Facebook: "Mind if you are coming up Redhall Road the heavy rain has caused this to happen. It's cracking all round it too."
Manhole covers in Gornal have also cracked as well as the tarmac prompting warnings to drivers about their safety.
Jodie Porter said: "Be careful driving the bottom of ellowes road, half the drain cover missing on the turning from Wood Road to Ellowes Road."
In Oldbury, the Wolverhampton Road has also flooded causing long tailbacks in both directions.
Baljinder Sanghera took a photo of the road submerged in water.
He said: "It is a major flood on the Wolverhampton Road."
