Posted on Friday 27th September 2019
Helen Fisher, Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport for Staffordshire County Council
Highways crews are to work six days a week to deliver a major new housing scheme in Blythe Bridge as quickly as possible.
St Modwen has been granted planning permission to build almost 120 news homes locally and needs to construct a site entrance, change the existing road lay out and install utilities as part of the scheme.
A new pedestrian crossing to help people cross the road safely will also be included, along with new pavements on both sides of the road.
The improvements are expected to take around ten weeks to complete and a section of the A521 will need to be closed in both directions to help ensure the safety of both members of the public and crews (from the junction of the A50 roundabout to its junction with the A521 Uttoxeter Road). They will begin on Monday October 7.
A signed diversion will be in place throughout the works via Uttoxeter Road and the A50 Blythe Bridge by pass.
Emergency services have been made aware and in the case of an incident on the A50, Highways England will implement signed diversion at strategic points on the network.
Helen Fisher, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council said:
These are essential road improvements to facilitate the new St Modwen housing development.
With a scheme of this size, there will always be some disruption, but we will be working closely with the developer to make sure the work is done efficiently as possible, with its crews working 12-hour days to get the job done.
We looked at all options for keeping one lane open to traffic, but this is not feasible due to the significant safety risks both members of the public and to highways crews. This would be further compounded by the need to manage traffic travelling from the A50.
I would like to thank people in advance for their co-operation and patience while the work is being carried out.”
St Modwen is holding a drop-in event at Blythe Bridge & Forsbrook Village Hall on October 2 from 2pm to 7pm for people to ask any further questions. Further details and a map of the diversion can also be found at A521 Scheme.