Council welcomes funding for key route
Dudley Council’s transport chief has welcomed a £50,000 pot of cash to scope out possible investment to the A461 between Dudley, Brierley Hill and Stourbridge.
Working in conjunction with Black Country Transport, the local authority will use the funding to look at possible ways of reducing congestion and support housing and employment growth in the area.
It’s also hoped the funding will encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport while making active travel safer for everyone.
The A461 is the key route from Dudley Port to Birmingham Road, near Burnt Tree, through to Castle Gate and Duncan Edwards Way. It then continues through Flood Street Island to Cinder Bank Island, Scotts Green, Stourbridge Road, Holly Hall before continuing west along Dudley Road, Venture Way, Church Street and Brettell Lane, where it integrates with the A491 Audnam, from High Street and becomes Wollaston Road.
The funding is part of a larger project operated by Midlands Connect, which is supporting local authorities across the region to apply for central government funding for local transport schemes.
Midlands Connect has recently worked in conjunction with local councils to secure £206 million for a series of projects throughout the region including Birchley Island in Sandwell and the A614 in Nottinghamshire.
Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for public realm, said:
The A461 is a very popular corridor for motorists in Dudley borough, and we would like to look at ways of reducing congestion while making it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport on this route.
We welcome the news of this £50,000 funding, which will help us to explore opportunities and we are looking forward to working with Black Country Transport and Midlands Connect to work on this project.