Road widened long-running works scheme cut back

Drivers who have got used to the relatively new layout on Wobaston Road, near the Vine Island in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, may be bemused to learn they can no longer use the right hand lane heading towards Pendeford.

The road was widened on both sides to make it a dual carriageway as part of a long-running roadworks scheme to ease congestion near the busy Vine Island and had helped cut delays.

However, the right lane which could previously be used to go straight on is now only for vehicles turning right onto the industrial estate.

Council bosses said it was always the intention the widening of the side of the road heading away from the A449 Stafford Road would only be temporary for normal traffic as it was designed for lorries and other vehicles entering a newly-built factory.

Traffic has already been seen backing up at the traffic lights at peak times as a result. There is a now only a short section where two lanes of traffic can run straight on before the carriageway narrows to a single lane.

The scale of new business developments along Wobaston Road, which includes the likes of Collins Aerospace and Moog, resulted in the road being widened.

A Wolverhampton Council spokesman said: "Wobaston Road was specifically widened at that point in line with planning requirements to accommodate a right-hand filter lane for a new commercial development that has only recently become operational.

“The works were done in advance of the development opening, which meant there was always going to be a period when the filter lane could temporarily be used for traffic to continue straight on.

“The filter lane was funded by the developer to accommodate the significant increase in commercial traffic that the development will generate.

“The overall aim of the whole city north gateway roadworks scheme is to support job generation and business growth – ensuring there is the highway capacity to support investment at local companies.”