A CRADLEY road that has been left closed since a car smashed into a building is expected to re-open this week.

Highfield Road has been left closed at its junction with Windmill Hill since a car careered into a barber’s shop on the corner on March 3, leaving the building badly damaged and unsafe.

Since then access to around 200 homes has been limited to a single track route, resulting in ambulance delays.

Work has been taking place to secure the damaged building to make the road safe to re-open and traffic is expected to be able to enter the estate one-way from tomorrow (Wednesday).

Andrew Sumner, network management and co-ordination lead for Dudley Council’s transport and highways services, said contractors would be on site today (Tuesday) to carry on shoring up works that have left the road completely closed.

But in a traffic briefing he confirmed: “Following work by the contractors it is anticipated that the one-way system for access into the estate from Windmill Hill and egress via Colman Hill Avenue will be able to be in place from Wednesday afternoon.”

He said highways staff attended the scene last night (Monday) to re-erect barriers and road closed signs to prevent vehicles using the road until the works are complete as some motorists had begun passing through but it has not yet been deemed safe for traffic.

From Wednesday afternoon, traffic will be allowed to enter Highfield Road from Windmill Hill only. Cars will be unable to exit Highfield Road onto Windmill Hill and will need to use Colman Hill Avenue.

To alleviate congestion and issues with vehicles navigating around parked vehicles, Colman Hill Avenue will also become temporarily one-way exiting onto Banners Lane until Highfield Road is returned to full public use.