Limekiln Bank Roundabout works delayed

Work to widen the Limekiln Bank Roundabout in Priorslee, Telford, were expected to be completed in July.

However, Telford & Wrekin Council now says work has been delayed by utility companies – meaning the roundabout cannot be finished until sometime later this year.

The council said it had completed a lot of the work required, but some of the utility companies had failed to divert some of their apparatus on time and this is now holding up work to finish the roundabout.

Russell Griffin, a Telford & Wrekin council spokesman, said: "Unfortunately the council has no control over these utility companies and most of the outstanding diversion work can only be carried out by them.

"For us to continue with our work would ultimately mean any work we now carry out would be destroyed or damaged by the utility diversion work yet to be completed."

The council says it will provide a further update regarding timescales once it has been agreed these with both the contractor and the utility companies concerned.

Work at Limekiln Bank includes widening the roundabout and improving the entry and exit arms to provide additional capacity.

The scheme will also see the installation of a signal-controlled crossing for pedestrians across Telford Way and replacement of street lighting, traffic signs and bollards.

In the meantime, the council says it will ensure the roundabout is allowed to operate "as freely as possible" while drivers wait for work to be completed.

Meanwhile, because of funding arrangements with the Local Enterprise Partnership, work has started on Clock Tower and Shawbirch roundabouts to comply with the LEP's timescales for spending the granted money. This work will continue as normal.

Four-way traffic lights around the works were removed on June 17, after drivers going around the roundabout have faced weeks of misery.

Roadworks began at the end of May as part of a programme of road improvements around the borough.

Speaking when the project was announced in February, Councillor Angela McClements, cabinet member for communities, regeneration and transport, said: "I'm delighted the council has been able to secure this funding to help ensure our road network can cope with traffic both now and over the next 20 years.

"We want to encourage people to come here to live and to work and an excellent road network is a significant consideration when people are making those decisions."