MALVERN’S MP Harriett Baldwin has called on Highways England to review lane closures which are threatening to cause major traffic delays to county commuters.
Mrs Baldwin has written to Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan asking for him to reconsider lane closures which will cause traffic queues between the M42 junction and Worcester.
The lane closure is being implemented to slow down traffic heading into the major roadworks at the Oldbury Viaduct in Birmingham but will have the knock-on effect of delaying northbound commuters as well as those heading for the M40.
The news comes shortly after the newly-opened ‘smart-motorway’ was finally completed after major delays and over-running construction work.
Mrs Baldwin said: “We’ve got a great new smart motorway which is there to improve traffic flow so it seems entirely counter-productive to be putting out cones and closing lanes just to hold up traffic in Worcestershire.
“I have asked Highways England to consider using the overhead signs better and using temporary speed limits instead to help improve traffic flow without the need to create an artificial pinch point.
“Having spent many millions of pounds of taxpayers money building a new stretch of free-flowing motorway through the county, it seems madness to add two more years of traffic cones and delays.
“I hope Highways England will listen and act appropriately.”
