From Monday 7th April 2025, drivers in Stone will face four weeks (The signs have now been updated to 1 week) road closures on Lichfield Road as part of Staffordshire County Council’s surface dressing preparations.
A yellow highways sign spotted near the route this week sparked concern, with many already predicting traffic tailbacks and disruption through key parts of the town. The road closure, carried out in partnership with Amey, forms part of a larger county-wide programme of preventative patching and surface dressing aimed at preserving road quality.
What’s happening?
Staffordshire County Council has issued a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) to close sections of Lichfield Road from 7th April 2025. The works fall under the Council’s surface dressing programme, which involves:
- Pre-patching potholes and defects to create a suitable base
- Laying a new surface to extend road life
- Imposing temporary speed limits of 10 mph
- Enforcing one-way systems on affected roads where required
The legal order, published under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended), outlines restrictions on vehicle movements, except for emergency services and vehicles directly involved in the works.
Alternative routes and diversions
The Council has stated that signed alternative routes will be in place throughout the works. For those travelling in or out of Stone, diversions will be routed via:
- Stafford Road
- A34
- A51
These are expected to take the bulk of the diverted traffic, but with school runs, commuter traffic, and local deliveries all sharing the same routes, delays are highly likely, particularly at peak times.
Communication and concerns
While advance warning signs have gone up, residents and local drivers may still be in the dark about access arrangements. Weather can affect the scheduling, so keep an eye out for updates as the works progress.
Access for emergency vehicles and those carrying out the works will still be maintained. All other traffic will be diverted away for the duration of the works.
What you need to know
- Start date: 7th April 2025
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Location: Lichfield Road, Stone
- Diversion route: Stafford Road / A34 / A51
- Works type: Surface dressing and pre-patching
Locals are being encouraged to plan journeys in advance, allow extra time for travel, and follow posted diversion signs carefully.
We’ll be keeping an eye on this story and will post any updates as they come in.
