Wolf sculptures mark opening of £6.8m north gateway scheme
The £6.8m city north gateway scheme in Wolverhampton has opened ensuring highway capacity to support investment at local companies including i54, Wolverhampton Business Park, and the Junction 2 employment area.
As part of the scheme, started in October 2017, several trees were removed from the central reservation area to make way for the required highway improvement works.
Three wooden wolf sculptures have also been unveiled on the A449 to mark the completion of a major transport scheme in Wolverhampton.
Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment at City of Wolverhampton Council said: “Our highways improvements programme is making a big difference to the transport network in the City of Wolverhampton.
“It is vitally important our road network matches regeneration ambitions and supports businesses and jobs growth in the area.
“Recycling the trees to create the running wolves has been the icing on the cake in this project.”
In partnership with the scheme contractor Eurovia, City of Wolverhampton Council worked with a local artist to recycle the trees to create eye-catching gateway features within the scheme.
The three wolves have been created to mark the entrance to one of Wolverhampton’s key routes into the city, welcoming visitors to the City of Wolverhampton.
The wolves have been carved in three different action poses – one running, one leaping and one howling, measuring 1.5 metres tall and 2.4 metres long.
Matthew Stubbings, Divisional Manager at Eurovia said: “Having worked in Wolverhampton for many years, everyone at Eurovia is delighted that we have been involved in the wolves project that will provide a warm welcome to motorists travelling on one of the key routes into the city.”
In the run-up to the unveiling, the wolves were screened by creative hoardings displaying artwork produced by inmates at HMP Oakwood, which will be auctioned to raise money for the mental health charity Mind.
