MOTORISTS have been thanked for their patience as work continues on one of the city’s most congested roundabouts.
The Ketch island project will see the roundabout off the A38 double in size and Worcester’s Southern Link road part-dualled in a bid to ease traffic.
Griffiths, contractor working on behalf of Worcestershire County Council, has so far completed the excavation, removal and surfacing of the current roundabout and splitter islands.
The £8million scheme is set to take 12 months.
Coun Simon Geraghty, council council deputy leader and cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure, said: “Work has progressed well over the first few weeks on this important project.
“It’s the first phase of a clear vision we have, which has been backed through the Worcestershire Strategic Econimic Plan, to dual-track the entire length of this key route to Whittington roundabout.
“More than 30,000 vehicles use the A4440 every weekday and the situation will get worse over the coming years if nothing is done.
“This first stage will bring immediate benefits but also forms part of our wider plan to ensure the area is ‘Open for Business’.
“Everything is being done to keep disruption to an absolute minimum and I’d like to thank people for their patience. It’s very much appreciated.”
Work has also began to replace existing lighting columns with tower lights and the next phases will include drainage and earth works to prepare for the main construction later this year.
