THE LEADER of Bromsgrove District Council Geoff Denaro and The West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion have expressed ‘major concerns’ about the latest M5 roadworks.
Work which is needed at Oldbury, between Junctions 1 and 2, is expected to take more than a year and Highways England is proposing to use a 30mph contraflow to manage traffic, divert drivers an extra 20 miles via the M42 or use local roads throughout north Worcestershire.
The situation would affect 60,000 journeys every day.
Coun Denaro said: “I was deeply concerned to learn Highways England having caused residents living along the A38 constant disruption and noise with the M5 project, are now implementing further disruption around Bromsgrove.
“Only last month I made reference at Council that normality should return soon, and that discussions would continue.
“Sadly, I see from Highways England website it is planning to shunt two northbound lanes of the M5 at junction 4A onto the M42 with one lane heading into the Oldbury roadworks.”
Mr Campion added: “Our communities have endured a lot of disruption recently, with the long period of roadworks on the M5 only just coming to an end.
“The proposals I have seen for these new works would impose another 12 months of strain on our communities, businesses and environment and this is not justifiable.
“It seems clear that this issue should be owned and contained within Birmingham and the Black Country, but it currently feels like the problems that will be caused are being shunted to Worcestershire.”
He added he would be working with local partners and communities to try and minimise the impact as much as possible.
