Alterations made to carriageway road closure schedule

By timesecholife on in All News, Featured News

FURTHER alterations have been made to the schedule of works that are currently being carried out on a frequently-used double carriageway in the Moorlands. The A521 in Blythe Bridge is currently partly shut as three phases of works on land adjacent to the road are completed by contractors from housing developers St Modwen Homes after previously being granted planning permission to build up to 120 new homes on the site. Earlier this month the Times and Echo reported that Staffordshire County Council's website explained that 'Phase Two' of the roadworks would see the “complete closure of the opposite side of the carriageway for seven weeks with two lanes open eastbound i.e. traffic leaving the A50,” while phase three signified “four weeks with three-way traffic signals and lane closures.”

It added that during the second phase “one lane west-bound to be opened to traffic from December 16 to January 9 whilst works have ceased for the Christmas shutdown to aid traffic flow for local residents.”

A spokesperson for Staffordshire County Council then explained that it “oversees” the works taking place on the A521 and that St Modwen Homes use their own highways contractors to carry out the developments.

Staffordshire County Council has now stated that the first phase of these works, going eastbound, was completed on December 16 and is now fully open to traffic.

A spokesman for the authority said: “Phase Two will begin on Monday, January 6 and operate a set of three way lights at the junction of Uttoxeter Road and A521, there will be a lane closed on the Eastbound carriageway as there will be no access to Uttoxeter Road from this direction, the access point will be from the Westbound carriageway cross over point.

“Uttoxeter Road will be closed to HGVs from this direction, however, buses will have access maintained for them.

“During Phase Two a lane will also be closed on the Westbound Carriageway as there have been excavation works taking place ahead of Phase Three.

“Phase Two is programmed to finish on 27 January.”

The spokesman goes on to state that for ‘Phase Three’, for traffic going Westbound “there will be a full closure with diversion from January 27 to March 13.”

They added: “At times, a full closure of the A521 in both directions will still be needed to carry out certain works.

“Signed diversions will be in place.

“We have worked with St Modwen to keep the A521 partially open as much as possible.

“Contractors will work six days a week from around 7.30am to 8pm at the latest depending on the nature of the works.

“In addition, we will explore the possibility of offering off-street parking to improve traffic flow through Blythe Bridge.”

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