COUNCIL chiefs have approved a £21,000 safety scheme for Lye’s busy Pedmore Road and Cemetery Road junction.

Work to the area of the A4036, where pedestrians often cross the road near the junction to access bus stops, is getting underway this month and is expected to take up to five weeks.

A new pedestrian refuge to help pedestrians cross the road and discourage motorists from overtaking by the junction is being installed. There will also be new road markings and signage to highlight the junction to approaching motorists.

The work follows a consultation in July with ward members, police, emergency services, bus operators and residents.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley’s cabinet member for environment, said: “We wanted to look at ways of helping people to cross the road more safely and also to discourage motorists from over taking at a point where it is unsafe to do so and we are confident that this scheme will help.

“Keeping people safe and keeping the borough moving is a key priority for the council and I would like to thank people for their patience while we undertake these important works.”

Temporary signals will be in place during the works which are being funded from existing budgets within the Transport Capital Programme.

Motorists are advised they should expect minor delays while the work is carried out.