HAGLEY residents are warned to brace themselves for six months of additional traffic congestion as improvement works to the Kidderminster Road roundabout get set to start.

Work to introduce a new signalling system and crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists as part of the CALA Homes development is due to get underway on Monday July 7 and is expected to last for 26 weeks.

The improvement works are being funded at a cost of over £1million by developers CALA Homes, who have written to 3,500 residents informing them of the possible disruption.

Roads affected will include the A456/A491 roundabout and all associated arms, the A456 junction with the B4187 and the A456 itself.

While no full road closures or diversions are planned during the improvement work, there may be temporary closures at times to allow for certain elements of the work to take place.

Pete Rowbottom of Hagley Action Group said: "We've accepted that the CALA Homes development is going ahead. Yes, they'll be plenty of congestion in Hagley for the next six months.

"The whole development is expected to increase the size of Hagley by 15 per cent, so this is massive for Hagley.

"The A456 is already recognised as the busiest road in the county with an estimated 400,000 journeys taking place on it each week."

The works will help to improve traffic conditions at the junction, according to a CALA Homes spokesman who added: "New signalling will help to regulate traffic flow within the area and we will also be installing new crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists."

Mr Rowbottom added: "The CALA Homes development itself will take around three years to complete and isn't expected to be finished until September 2017. People will just have to put up with the inconvenience.

"Our main concern at Hagley Action Group now is trying to obtain the maximum community gain possible.

"There are plenty of projects in Hagley that need help."