PERMANENT traffic lights are in place after a year of traffic disruption.

The traffic lights are now operational at the A38 Copcut, in Droitwich.

Pulley Lane and Copcut Lane are also fully open.

County and district councillor for Droitwich, Richard Morris said: “Worcestershire County Council will check the work before adopting from the developers as there are some remaining problems to sort. As the nearest councillor I empathise totally with what everyone has been through and lessons do need to be learnt with developer led highways works.”

There is a temporary speed limit to be removed and an incorrectly placed sign to be re-sited by the developer.

For over a year, the roadworks were described as a “nightmare” by frustrated motorists, traders and residents. Among the businesses affected was the Copcut Elm pub, which is situated right next to where the roadworks were. Last year a spokesman for the pub said: “It has been a nightmare at times, trade has been hit.”

Another business owner spoke out about the impact of the works and said it was leaving his workforce stuck in traffic for around half an hour at a time.

Glyn Olden, managing director of Chess Plastics, in Berry Hill Industrial Estate, said at the time: “I’m paying overtime to try and compensate for the lost time but 15 minutes extra pay here and there in overtime doesn’t sound like much but it all adds up to money coming out of the business.”

The work was carried out by Redrow and Persimmon contractor MV Kelly, having been overseen by Worcestershire County Council.

It was designed to improve the stretch of A-road and the junction. The work needed to be completed before numerous empty properties at the Yew Tree Hill housing estate, off Pulley Lane, can be occupied.

The developers previously reached a legal agreement with Wychavon District Council that no more than 188 homes on the estate would be occupied until they improved the junction.