Ringroad improvements
This page gives details of the ringroad improvements, for background information on the scheme please see our ringroad re-development page.
Ringroad map
Please view a map of the ringroad redevelopment (PDF 1.2MB). You can zoom in and out on this PDF file to see more detail of the works.
Improvement 1 - Pleck Road/Rollingmill Street Junction
Pedestrians will be able to cross safely with controlled crossings installed on all four junction arms. Traffic capacity will be improved by making it easier for vehicles to negotiate the junction.
Improvement 2 Pleck Road/Bridgeman Street junction
We will increase capacity by making the junction easier for vehicles to negotiate. Pedestrian safety will be improved with controlled crossings on all four arms – of particular importance near the hospital.
Improvement 3 Pleck Road/Wolverhampton Road/Blue Lane West junction
The road leading up to this major junction will be widened – using land currently used for lorry parking. This will also allow us to build northbound and southbound bus lanes. A separate cycleway will run from here to the Arboretum – improving safety for cyclists.
The new carriageway will be constructed off-line from existing traffic and disruption should not be too severe.
Currently a congestion "hot spot", the junction itself will be completely revamped to give much better access to and from Pleck Road. The junction with Hollyhedge Lane will allow right turns towards Junction 10 of the M6 Motorway. The existing bus lane on Wolverhampton Road will be extended and signals installed to give priority to public transport – particularly buses leaving Pleck Road northbound. Pedestrians will be able to negotiate the junction safely, thanks to controlled crossings across all roads.
Junction improvements have recently been carried out as part of the Crown Wharf retail development, which will remain largely unaltered.
Improvement 4 Green Lane/Blue Lane West/Court Way junction
The junction will be widened to improve capacity and moved slightly south of its current position to give a better alignment – improving the flow of traffic. Incorporating controlled pedestrian crossings on all arms will improve safety.
Improvement 5 - Stafford Street/Court Way/Littleton Street West/ Day Street junctions
We will re-align the junction of Stafford Street, Court Way and Littleton Street West to improve the flow of traffic and remove the current gyratory system around Day Street. Buses will still use the southbound bus lane.
Controlled pedestrian crossings will be installed on three junction arms with the uncontrolled crossing kept on the southern arm in Stafford Street. Traffic disruption will be unavoidable during construction.
Southbound traffic will still be directed around Day Street and Wisemore, but the junction of Wisemore and Littleton Street West will be much improved with full traffic light-control.
A new carriageway will be constructed along Littleton Street West, where we will see a new railway bridge built to the north of the existing bridge. Disruption should not be too severe.
Improvement 6 - Hatherton Street/Littleton Street West/Littleton Street East junction
The junction will be widened to the north of the existing crossroads to improve capacity and ease turning for vehicles. Pedestrians will have the safety of controlled crossings on all arms.
Improvement 7 - Arboretum Junction
The present Arboretum roundabout does not work – a key junction on the borough's strategic road network, it suffers from very heavy traffic flow, excessive queues and a high number of accidents.
We intend to change the layout to create a five-arm crossroads, which will significantly improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists – allowing them to negotiate the junction in safety.
Installing a signal-controlled junction – integrated with computerised control of traffic light sequences across the town centre – will shorten vehicle waiting times.
The layout will not remove delays entirely, but it is likely to cut queues by up to 43 per cent and reduce delays by up to 28 per cent, compared to existing roundabout operation.
Several options have been explored, including installing traffic lights on the existing roundabout, however none were found to give a viable alternative.
In addition, the council is exploring the opportunity to provide a landmark gateway feature at this key location.
