Walsall ring road set for completion

THE much-delayed multi-million pound Walsall ring road project is set to be finally completed this weekend after the final obstacle was overcome.

In February, the Advertiser reported that the new layout was nine months over schedule – at a cost of an extra £5.3 million.

Government funding helped ensure the works continued, and this week traffic lights were finally switched on at the junction of Pleck Road and Wolverhampton Road.

Steve Pretty, Walsall Council head of engineering and transportation, said: "We are very proud of this road which is designed to safeguard and attract jobs and investment in Walsall.

"We are now on the final lap, I'm very pleased to say. We are within touching distance of the entire scheme being operational with the switch-on of the Pleck Road and Wolverhampton Road junction which is in itself a major feat of engineering."

Contractors Norwest Holst are waiting for telecommunications workers to complete final work to allow them to press ahead.

Stringent safety checks are also being made by gas utility experts because of major gas pipes buried under the junction.

"We are very much in the hands of utility companies who are completing their work before we can step in and finish off," added Mr Pretty.

"Much of it is to ensure the safety of the scheme and is not something we would wish to rush.

"We are standing ready. Until we get the all clear from telecomms and gas utilities we are not able to give a definitive time and date for when the lights go on and the road is operational. However, we hope this will be on Sunday, May 17."

The road is one mile long, and was built in 13 major sections – including a new dual carriageway at Littleton Street and a new five way junction to replace the Arboretum roundabout.