Herefordshire drivers heading into Worcester over the weekend should avoid a key route.
Traffic chaos is expected when the Temeside Way stretch of the A4440, including Carrington Bridge, shuts at 9pm tonight (Friday, May 13).
It won’t open again until 5.30am on Monday (May 16).
Worcestershire Highways announced the closure, which will allow ongoing work on the Southern Link Road there to continue.
Broomhall Way, the Ketch roundabout and the Powick roundabout will all be open, although drivers have been advised to lookout for lane closures.
The closure of a busy stretch of the A4440 will affect traffic between Worcester and Malvern as well as drivers going to or from the M5.
Bus operator First Worcester said it was "expecting severe delays to most services throughout the weekend" because of the closure.
Work to turn the A4440 into a dual carriageway is one of Worcestershire County Council’s biggest infrastructure projects.
Carrington Bridge opened to traffic for the first time last year and forms part of a £55 million programme of work that also includes a new underpass at Ketch roundabout, work on the Ketch viewpoint and cycle path and footpath improvements.
'Key infrastructure project'
Councillor Alan Amos is Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transport.
He said: “This is an incredibly important scheme to enable improved journey times and enhanced connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists in and around Worcester.
“This is a key infrastructure project for the council and it’s great to see the works progressing so well. A huge amount has been achieved so far and I look forward to seeing the scheme fully operational.”
The A4440 has already been ‘dualled’ between Junction 7 of the M5 and the Ketch roundabout and three new footbridges have been opened at Crookbarrow Way, Broomhall Way and Hams Way.
Today saw the opening of a new underpass running underneath Temeside Way, the fourth crossing to have been launched as part of the works.
One of the entrances directly leads onto the footpath to the Toby Carvery and is intended as a new way of crossing for pedestrians.
Worcestershire County Council says the new underpass will offer a safer, traffic-free, crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, and in response to safety concerns from residents has said it will be lit and be covered by CCTV.
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