Telford road delays as 40 weeks of M54 work starts
Motorists were today facing long delays during rush hour as lanes on the M54 were closed in Telford ahead of 40 weeks of planned works, which start tonight.
Lengthy queues built up between junctions four and seven on the motorway, caused by one lane being closed in each direction ahead of work to repair three bridges.
Traffic moving westbound was brought to a standstill at the height of the morning rush hour.
Commuters reacted angrily at the delays, which added more than half an hour to journeys. A car fire on the eastbound carriageway near junction three just after 9am added to congestion, and ambulances had to battle through queues to reach hospitals. The work is not due to be finished until spring next year.
Adam Jones, from Telford, commutes to Shrewsbury each morning. He said: "It normally takes me about 25 minutes but today it took upwards of 45 minutes. Traffic was down to one lane in both directions with not much going on.
"An ambulance attempted to travel in the opposite direction and people were swerving in both directions to get out of the way, mostly into the designated coned road works area, it was quite dangerous."
Nick Watts, a designer, said: "My 40-minute journey from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury took one hour and 15 minutes."
Sabrina Cliff, from Telford, described the road works as a "commuter's hell". She said: "Who had the great idea for road works on the M54, A442 and centre ring road all at the same time?"
The westbound stretch between junctions five and seven will be closed overnight until Thursday. The eastbound carriageway will be closed between junctions seven and six on Friday and Saturday.
The Highways Agency has said work on the project during the day is essential.
