£30m project creating 8,000 homes and revamping Willenhall Road 'set for 2021'
A major £30 million road and homes scheme to transform one of the busiest routes into Wolverhampton will get under way in 2021 under new plans.
The A454 Willenhall Road is next on the city council’s list of regeneration works – although serious congestion is expected throughout the two-year project.
It will see 8,000 homes built as well as improvements to the route itself, which is heavily congested at peak times.
An estimated 12,000 jobs would be created.
What is the plan?
Under the plans part of the road – used by more than 20,000 vehicles daily – will become one-way to improve traffic flow.
Warwick Street and Duke Street would also become one-way, and a large roundabout built between Chillington Fields and Hickman Avenue to improve access to East Park on both sides of the main road.
The scheme went out for public consultation before Christmas with people invited to choose their preferred option from four choices.
Most residents and organisations including Wolverhampton Homes, Walsall Council, Transport For West Midlands and the Director of Public Health, favoured the full road scheme rather than options making only minor improvements.
A report being considered by the cabinet resources panel today looks at the stretch between the Bilston Road Island and Hickman Avenue.
Future phases relate to the wider extents of the route connecting to Willenhall, the Black Country Route and Walsall, and will be considered separately.
Why is it needed?
Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment, said the improvements supported the city’s wider regeneration scheme and would hopefully encourage more businesses to invest in the city.
Councillor Milkinder Jaspal said the project was ‘long overdue’.
He said: “This is good news and very much needed. I think it will really enhance the corridor.
“A few improvements have been made over the last year or two which has been helped a lot but we think this will now take it to the next stage. It’s been long overdue.
“This will be really welcomed.”
Council bosses are optimistic about raising the necessary cash. Initial bids for funding based on a cost of £25m–30m have been well received and the scheme given a high ranking against the government’s Major Roads Network funding classification.
