Wolverhampton gateways earmarked for £2m improvement scheme
Key gateways into Wolverhampton are to be smartened up as part of a £2m improvement package of works over the next two years.
The condition of street furniture and associated infrastructure on main routes across the city are to be reviewed by the city council and a programme developed to renew, repair or remove items.
New boundary signs will be created showcasing the city’s heritage, and a new gateway tourist sign on each of the main routes is also proposed to clearly profile city attractions such as Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Grand Theatre, Molineux Stadium, Monmore Green Stadium, Wolverhampton Racecourse and WV Active.
The council said the overall aim was to improve the streetscape on these major routes and enhance visitors’ first impressions of the city – helping to raise its status.
The scheme is being funded from the capital transportation programme budget.
Cllr Steve Evans, cabinet member for City Environment, said: “It is a priority that these routes which provide the gateway to the city are maintained to a high standard.
“While the routes have been improved, it is clear a scheme that delivers a consistent approach to their on-going development and maintenance is required if the city is to reach the high standards it aspires to.”
The routes vary between single and dual carriageway roads and include the main routes linking the city to the wider region, such as the strategically important connections to M54 junction 2 on the A449 Stafford Road, M6 junction 10 on the A454 Willenhall Road, and Birmingham on the A4123 Birmingham New Road.
The review will assess carriageway and footway surfaces, road marking, road signs (directional and regulatory) illuminated and non-illuminated (including brown tourist signs), street name plates, street lighting, condition of traffic signals and pedestrian crossings, guardrail, barriers and bollards, cleanliness (litter, graffiti etc), trees, vegetation, verges and planters, general street furniture such as litter bins and seating, and gully maintenance.
It is expected the majority of works will be completed during 2017/18, with more complex guardrail changes, subject to safety audits, rolling into phase two of the project during 2018/19.
The routes prioritised in phase one are: A449 Stafford Road; A454 Middle Cross/Horseley Fields/Lower Horseley Fields/Willenhall Road; A4150 Ring Road; A4123 Birmingham Road/Thompson Avenue/Birmingham New Road; A454 Compton Road/Compton Road West/Bridgnorth Road; Chapel Ash/Tettenhall Road/The Rock/Wergs Road; A449 Penn Road; A459 Dudley Road/Wolverhampton Road East’ Cannock Road; A4124 Wednesfield Road/Wolverhampton/Wednesfield Way/Lakefield Road/Lichfield Road; A41 Bilston Road/Wellington Road/Lichfield Street/Oxford Street; A463 Black Country Route/Shaw Road; City Centre; A 4039 Goldthorn Hill/Parkfield Road/Millfields Road; and A4126 Spring Road/Ettingshall Road/Rookery Road.
Phase two includes: Amos Lane/Long Knowle Lane; Birches Barn Road/Broad Lane/Stubbs Road/Rookery Lane; Blackhalve Lane; Bushbury Lane, Elston Hall Lane/Three Tuns Lane; Bushbury Road; Coalway Road/Langley Road; Codsall Road/Lower Street/Henwood Road; Deans Road/Stowheath Lane; Finchfield Road/Castlecroft Road/Finchfield Hill/Windmill Lane; Highfields Road/Salop Street/Loxdale Street; Hordern Road; Lea Road; Moseley Road/Neachells Lane; Mount Pleasant/Willenhall Road; Newhampton Road East/West; Oxley Moor Road/Aldersley Road; Prestwood Road/Prestwood Road West/Thorneycroft Lane; Victoria Road; Trysull Road/Bradmore Road/Merridale Road/Bath Road; Waddens Brook Lane; Warstones Road/Oxbarn Avenue; Waterloo Road; Wobaston Road/Barnhurst Lane/The Droveway; Wolverhampton Road/Rookery Street/Lichfield Road; Wolverhampton Street.
