Be prepared for even more delays on the A34 in Stone. Work on the A34 / Whitemill Lane junction was scheduled to start today, leading to more delays on an already busy A34 in Stone caused by existing roadworks at Meaford.
The Whitemill Lane junction works, which will take four weeks, are designed to improve safety at the junction and will see lane closures in place – the outside lane nearest the central reservation will be closed in both directions. Staffordshire County Council says the work will cause minor delays – on top of the delays already caused by the new roundabout work at Meaford.
Many people have posted their frustrations on the Little Bit of Stone Facebook page, asking why this work is taking place during the delays caused by the Meaford development. Concerns have also been expressed about the impact of the works on fire engines leaving Stone Community Fire Station.
The county was forced to go back to the drawing board after a vocal campaign against their original plans for the junction, which would have stopped traffic turning right on to the A34 out of Whitemill Lane. Campaigners said this would have led to a big increase of traffic through Walton and on to the Eccleshall Road. Two public meetings were held and campaigners were backed by Stone MP Sir Bill Cash.
The new plans for the junction allow traffic to turn right out of Whitemill Lane on to the A34, but do stop traffic turning right from the A34 into Whitemill Lane. New signs will be installed, including ‘No U-turn’ signs. Parking will also be allowed on the footway in front of terraced houses on The Fillybrooks to help improve visibility at the junction. Yellow lines on Whitemill Lane will also be extended to do the same.
You can see a full-size PDF of the changes that are being made by clicking here – Fillybrooks revised plan
And there is more information about the roadworks on the county council website HERE.
