Work on 'major route' to take months

Resident Tom Allan says the roadworks are causing traffic to back up

More frustrations have been aired over roadworks on one of a town's "busiest roads".

Temporary traffic lights have been operating since July at Middlesbrough's Ladgate Lane, prompted by planned repairs to a damaged culvert.

Middlesbrough Council has previously said the lane closure was unavoidable due to the discovery of a "significant structural defect".

Asked whether a start date had been set for repairs, councillor Peter Gavigan, executive member for environment and sustainability, told a local authority meeting a contractor had been appointed for the work, which is expected to take about seven months.

The question was posed by Middlesbrough Independent Councillors' Association leader Mick Saunders, who described Ladgate Lane as one of the town's "busiest roads" and "a major route" towards James Cook University Hospital.

'Drawn-out process'

The damaged culvert is associated with Ormesby Beck and is below the carriageway.

As a result, a section of the westbound lane towards Stewart Park has been closed with traffic lights in use.

Gavigan said: "It's a long and drawn-out process and I appreciate this is causing a lot of inconvenience."

Adding he was aware little action had been seen so far, he explained the roadworks were focused on safety.

"We are keeping vehicles on the opposite side of the road as a precautionary measure until the scheme has been completed," he said.

The Labour-run local authority says that "while drivers won't always see work taking place day to day, that doesn't mean the lane can be open".

'Spitting feathers'

Earlier this month, resident Tom Allan said vehicles were backed up to Ormesby High Street most mornings.

Mr Allan also suggested the disruption was having a knock-on effect on people travelling to funerals at the council-run crematorium on Acklam Road.

The pensioner, who lives off Cargo Fleet Lane, said people were "spitting feathers" and asking "what the hell are they [the council] doing".

While the council has described a significant defect, the Local Democracy Reporting Service says the authority has not revealed how the damage to the culvert was caused, nor what preparation work has been undertaken.