ROADWORKS on Mucklow Hill in Halesowen will still be in place when busy Manor Way is closed - Dudley Council has confirmed.

Roadworks on Mucklow Hill have run over and are not set to be completed until next Wednesday (September 15) - which coincides with when Manor Way closes from next Monday (September 13) until Friday September 17.

Mucklow Hill is on the diversion route while Manor Way is closed closed eastbound only, between Grange Road and Cloister Drive.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley Council's cabinet member for public realm, said: “The Mucklow Hill works should have been finished before Manor Way started, but due to difficulties with the dig contractors have asked for an extension to the works up to September 15.

“The extension is for works on one side of the road only, and we do not expect it to significantly worsen any disruption caused by what is happening on Manor Way.”

The closure of the busy A456 Manor Way dual carriageway, which connects to the M5 motorway, is expected to cause havoc for motorists. And news that the Mucklow Hill works will still be in place is another blow.

Cllr Shakespeare said the council had done what it could to minimise disruption for motorists.

She said: “The contractors have a legal right to enter Manor Way and Mucklow Hill to undertake the works.

“The council cannot stop that – but what we do try to do as much as possible is to minimise the disruption to motorists by co-ordinating the works.

“To that end, the original request for the work on Mucklow Hill was for it to take place between September 20 and October 29. This was rejected by the council because of the impact it would have on traffic.

“With Mucklow Hill’s proximity to Earls High School and two Halesowen College campuses, the council felt the majority of this work should be carried out in the school holidays.

"The dates for Mucklow Hill were therefore amended to run from July 21 to September 10.

"Furthermore, arrangements were made for two different works to be carried out at the same time to further minimise disruption.

“With regards to Manor Way, the council received an application on June 11 for the works – providing a sewer connection to the Sandvik site – to take place between September 13 and September 17.

"Those dates have not been changed or pushed back."

The alternative route for traffic for the Manor Way closure is via Grange Road, Vine Lane, Bromsgrove Road, Bromsgrove Street, Mucklow Hill, Kent Road, Manor Lane, and Manor Way.