Town 'red route' plans approved

A main road in a Black Country town is being turned into a "red route" in a £1.5m scheme to cut congestion, after councillors approved plans.

The A454 Wolverhampton Road between junction 10 of the M6 and Pleck Road in Walsall will become a non-stop route.

It will start after work to upgrade the ring road in the town has been completed, a Walsall Council spokesman said.

One lane on the "red route" on the A454 will be for buses and lorries.

In favour

Cabinet member for transport, Anthony Harris, said he came up with that idea while driving his lorry through the town.

Plans were approved at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening.

Cars will not be able to stop unless they use specially-marked bays.

Loading bays for business will also be created with pedestrian crossings along the route to be upgraded.

The council, which said public meetings were held in June, added 87% of people were in favour of the proposed scheme.

The plans were first announced in May.