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Lucknow Road closure causes widespread misery

by Ian Shires on 22 April, 2016

Is it any wonder that people get frustrated when they have a problem with the Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, public transport in all its various guises or one of the numerous utility companies? Talk about getting the run around. You get fobbed off from one person to the next then onto another organisation because it’s really their fault not the person you have been speaking to. Sound familiar? I bet it does!

LucknowThat’s exactly what’s been going on all this week in respect of the chaos that has descended on the north Willenhall area due to the closure of one of the major north/south link roads in the Short Heath area, namely Lucknow Road. A lengthy diversion has been set up which switches traffic across to the A462 via Mill Lane which then means that all the north/south traffic moving through the area has to negotiate a major bottle neck at Lane Head Bridge which is bad enough in the best of times!

Not only is that creating virtual gridlock during the rush hour and the school run but it also means that bus users in the effected area north of Mill Lane have been left without a bus service or a very long walk. There are many elderly people in that are who depend on public transport.

This all started on Monday when Severn Trent began essential main replacement work on not just one main but two. They say that the road closure is necessary as the workforce has at times to work across both sides of the road. The whole project is planned to take 5 weeks.

What is happing on the ground is not good and all the Partners involved need to look at the effects of the actions they have taken, review the outcomes to see if there is anything further that can be done to reduce the negative effects of the work then make any adjustments, inform the public and ask for further feedback. And it can’t be beyond the wit of man to find a shorter diversion for the 28 and 41 bus services.

If there really is nothing further that can be done then tell people that and explain why. Everyone knows that the work has to be done. They also know that there is going to be some disruption. What also needs to be borne in mind is that any disruption in water supply to residents in Lucknow Road also needs to be kept to an absolute minimum. Whatever happens people need to know that their concerns have been listened to and are being addressed where possible.

STOP PRESS…..

The latest news that we have on this is that Walsall Council is trying to pull together a meeting on Monday with all the Agencies involved.

   6 Comments

6 Responses

  1. Stephen Smallman says:

    Traffic chaos in Broad Lane due to closure from Amery Club to Mill Lane. I have sat in traffic for 35 minutes to travel less than half a mile.
    How long is this going to go on for?

    • Ian Shires says:

      Hi Stephen
      I think you might have been caught up in another issue with Severn Trent which has added to the existing problems due the road works being carried out by Severn Trent.
      I have just been informed that a hole has appeared at the junction of Wesley Road with Coltham Road which is causing tail backs along the diversion route.
      Severn Trent are suspending the work in Lucknow Road whilst they fix the problem at Coltham Road. I am told that Coppice Lane and Lucknow Road will be open to through traffic from tomorrow with temporary light controlling that bit of Lucknow Road where Severn Trent have been working this week. Temporary traffic lights will be in place around the works in Wesley Road/Coltham Road. The work repairing the collapsed chamber will I am told take 7 to 10 days.

  2. Chris white says:

    I live off Mill lane and trying to get home or into Bloxwich currently is an absolute nightmare. You sit in traffic for up to half an hour and can actually see your turning but cannot get to it. Mill lane has also become a extreme danger accident spot for pedestrians and drivers as tempers flare and motorists try to force their way forward. It is not going to be long before there is an accident. There seems to have been no thought or planning in this. Someone should be brought to account. If some one is injured they should be sued for damages. Please re think this and open the road back up. Even with temporary traffic lights.

    • Ian Shires says:

      Hi Chris,
      Thanks for contacting us. Your concerns are shared with many including ourselves. We have pressed all week for Severn Trent to work in the same way in which the contractors who did the gas main replacement but so far they have been adamant that they need to be working close to or on the centre of the road reducing the width of the carriageway to less than half. Further talks are due to take place between the council and Amey the contractor doing the work on behalf of Severn Trent and others including the bus operator. The will be a brief respite from today as the work has been suspended because of a major problem on the diversion route where a hole has opened up at the junction of Wesley Rd with Coltham Rd. We are using that brief respite to press the very points you make.
      Kind regards
      Ian

  3. Roger says:

    Luck now road is easily passable without the lights… and for Coltham …there are plenty of barriers and paint on the road but no signs of work… yet again traffic can pass freely without the lights, even with Coltham blocked off… the lights delay between each direction change on lucknow is just way too long causing frustrated drivers to drive through on red… the only issue is one hole which just encroaches the road before the bridge.. which again can be passed… lately this road has been closed more than open for one thing or another

    • Ian Shires says:

      Hear what you say Roger. Will pass your comments onto Severn Trent’s Contractor Amey who have insisted on the closures and temporary lights.

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