Patience urged as major multi-million-pound roadworks get underway in Stoke

The scheme, which is set to be completed in April next year, will see Joiners Square roundabout in Hanley completely rebuilt. It'll also see updates made to the junction where Bucknell New Road meets Potteries Way.

Both stretches of road often experience heavy traffic during peak hours and the council hopes this scheme will improve that.

But what exactly are the council planning to do?

Joiners Square Roundabout

Joiners Square roundabout will be rebuilt and increased in size in a bid to improve its layout and increase its capacity.

Whilst works are ongoing, the junction will be controlled by a set of four-way lights though the council say they will be manually controlled if required through peak hours to help ease traffic flow as best as possible.

The works begin on Monday the 30th of November and are expected to last until April 2021.

Bucknall New Road

Significant changes are to be made to Bucknell New road on the approach to Potteries Way. Improved traffic signals will be joined by the conversion of the road to a three-lane approach in a further bid to improve traffic flow.

From midnight on Sunday, December 6 through to 6am on Thursday, December 10, a full closure of Bucknall New Road from its junction with Potteries Way to Lime Kiln Lights will be in place.

The plan is to take down the existing pedestrian footbridge that spans the road ahead of the main improvement work commencing, which is due for completion in summer 2021.

The council are asking people to bear with the disruption the works will cause, arguing that they'll be worth it in the long run.

Cllr Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage, said: “These two junctions have huge local significance serving both the city centre and other key routes and they were simply not designed for the levels of traffic we get now as the city has grown over the years."

"We must invest and carry out this work now to secure a sustainable and successful future for the city as Stoke-on-Trent continues to develop for the better. This infrastructure investment will increase connectivity and boost the economy as we power up the city to make sure we come out of the coronavirus pandemic in a strong position."

“As a motorist and resident of the city myself I fully understand how frustrating it can be to be stuck in traffic. We all want the best for Stoke-on-Trent but sometimes progression isn’t possible without short-term disruption. There will be some short-term pain but the end result will be better infrastructure and long-term gain for everyone, so my message to motorists is please bear with us while we carry out these essential upgrades."

"We truly believe the disruption will be worth the benefits which we will have for the next 25 years and more. We must build a better tomorrow for the city, its businesses and our residents.”

The work is being funded in the main by Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (£7.1 million) and delivered by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which is also making a £1.6 million contribution.

The council claim the investment in the city’s infrastructure will provide long-term benefits for motorists and the economy, with reduced congestion and improved journey times when finished. However, they say, there will be some unavoidable short-term disruption while work takes place which will be minimised at every opportunity.