Shropshire Star

Cracks in Shropshire's M54 cause traffic chaos as emergency works take place

Part of the M54 will be closed to all traffic after cracks appeared in the concrete.

Published

The eastbound carriageway between junction three for Albrighton and junction two for Wolverhampton will be closed overnight for emergency repairs.

The road will close tomorrow from 8pm to allow for repairs to be made, with one lane of the road due to reopen by noon on Saturday.

It will then close again at 8pm on Saturday for the work to be completed.

Subject to weather conditions, it is hoped both lanes of the road will be reopened by noon on Sunday (NOV 29).

The cracks appeared on Wednesday, leading to work on the carriageway that caused long delays of an hour for morning commuters travelling from Shropshire towards Wolverhampton and the M6 yesterday.

Surrounding roads were also clogged up as motorists searched for alternative routes.

The road was first closed at 9.15pm on Wednesday when a diversion was put in place and one lane of the road reopened at 6am this morning (THURS NOV 26).

Highways England said the carriageways has to be closed in order to get the repairs completed at a time when minimum disruption would be caused.

It is expected one lane will remain sealed off until tomorrow night, when the road closure will begin again.

Highways England said workers were working around the clock to carry out the repairs and fully reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

Drivers using the M54 tomorrow are warned to expect delays and were being urged to leave extra time for their journeys.

Joe Wilson, a spokesman for Highways England, said: "We continue to have a lane one closure on the M54 between junctions 3 and 2 eastbound.

"We need to undertake emergency repair work as we have discovered cracks in sections of the concrete road surface.

"Highways England and its contractors are working around the clock to carry out the repairs and fully reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience to motorists."

During the closures, all traffic is advised to leave the M54 eastbound at J3, taking the A41 northbound to the junction with the A5 near Burlington. Then taking the A5 eastbound to the Gailey roundabout where drivers can then take the A449 southbound to re-join the M54 at J2.

Drivers who arrive at the Gailey roundabout (A5/A449) junction intending to take the M6 northbound may continue eastbound on the A5 which will route to the M6 J12 near Cannock.

The diversion for tonight's eastbound closure is via the A41 northbound, the A5 eastbound towards Weston-under-Lizard, and the Stafford Road southbound towards the M54 to rejoin at junction 2.

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