Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, has welcomed the news from Highways England that they are to carry out road improvements to improve a stretch of road in Coven on both carriageways of the A449 between Brewood Road and Coven and the A5 Gailey roundabout.
The carriageway will be renewed using a new anti-skid surfacing, road markings, road studs and traffic counting loops reinstated and the drainage repaired where required. Highways England will also realign the kerbs and widen the central reservation to the north of the A449/ School Lane/ Old Stafford Road Junction for a length of approximately 200 metres to install a new safety barrier.
The existing footway crossing point some 200m north of Brewood Road Roundabout will be reconfigures to provide a staggered layout in the central reserve. The scheme will maintain the integrity of the road surface, improve driver safety and the safety of pedestrians, with the improved drainage work preventing flooding.
During the work there will be weekday overnight closures on the carriageway between 20:00 and 06:00 and some weekend closures between 20:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Monday. In order to resurface the carriageway on the A5/A449 Gailey roundabout the northern half of the road will be closed on 1 August and the southern half on the 2nd between 20:00 and 06:00 and both roads will have fully signed diversion routes that have been agreed with the local authority.
Highways England have said that they will not close the northbound and southbound carriageways at the same time and access to frontages during all closures will be maintained. Road improvements will be lifted for events such as V Festival and over the August Bank Holiday period.
The work is planned to start on 1st August and will finish later in the year on 27th November.
In welcoming the news of the road improvements Gavin said: “I am pleased that Highways England has laid out their plans for the improvement works on the A449 between Coven and the A5 Gailey Roundabout. This stretch of road has been in need of upgrading for a while and I am pleased that Highways England have taken the decision to deliver this essential maintenance work.”