CONSERVATIVE West Midlands mayoral candidate Andy Street has pledged the cash for a congestion-busting plan to transform Oldbury’s Birchley Island.

Sandwell Council have drawn up a £26.8 million pound plan to cut queues and improve traffic flow around the notorious island.

Boffins have designed a ‘through roundabout’ or ‘hamburger’ junction so the Wolverhampton Road will pass through the current island in both directions.

Mr Street, who was previously in charge of retailer John Lewis, said: “It’s quite clear that this island is a major bottleneck between the Black Country and Birmingham and has been for decades.

“It’s not only slowing the flow of traffic on the A-roads, it’s adding further congestion to the motorways as people go junction hopping to try to avoid it and is strangling development and investment in Sandwell.

"This has to stop and this is why I am singling this project out as a priority as mayor.

“There is no point having a mayor for the West Midlands if not to start tackling the structural, difficult issues and, as everybody in this part of the region knows, this is one of them. The congestion challenge in the West Midlands is a huge barrier to our economic growth.”

The battle lines have been drawn for the race to become West Midlands Mayor with Tory Mr Street and Labour MEP Sion Simon both promising to improve travel links in the region.

Mr Street added: “As mayor, I will deliver improvements that will make a difference to people’s lives and Birchley Island will be right at the top of my list.”

Mr Street has also committed to starting work on the extension of the Midland Metro to Brierley Hill, with funding he has already helped negotiate from Government.

For more information about Mr Street follow @Andy4WM on Twitter.