A BUSY road will not be closing for 18 months to allow for flood alleviation work, the county council has confirmed.

Concerns had been raised the A449 Malvern Road at the junction with Old Road, just after Manor Farm through to the Powick roundabout of the A4440 Southern Link Road, could be closed for a lengthy amount of time for flood work after a traffic notice gave an 18 month timeframe.

However, the planned works are set to start on March 23 and last for 12 days. The closure will take place overnight between 7pm and 5.30am.

Worcestershire County Council said the reference to 18 months on the notice was the expected length of the Southern Link Road work, of which this latest closure was just one part.

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said: “Other than in an emergency, contractors are required to reserve road space well in advance of carrying out road works that require road closures or other restrictions.

“The purpose of this is to avoid the risk of other conflicting road works being carried out at the same time.

“For major projects such as the Southern Link Road, a lengthy period of time is reserved to prevent any clashes with other road works during that period of time.

“In most cases the actual closures will be for a very limited time within the ‘reserved’ period and are confirmed, along with any diversion routes, nearer to the time of the closure.”

The planned road closures in Powick and diversions through Worcester are part of the fourth and final phase of the county council’s plan to dual the Southern Link Road.

The current proposed diversion would be via Bromyard Road and along the A44 through St John’s and back towards Powick via Bromwich and back to the Powick roundabout of the A4440.

The traffic notice related to the closure said: “Road closure to begin works on duct crossings across the A449 Malvern Road.

“Maintenance works to existing drainage will also be carried out at this time to make use of the road closure in place.”

The work could also be delayed if flooding occurs again in Powick within the next few weeks.

The A4449 Malvern Road in Powick and the Powick roundabout of the Southern Link Road was forced to close for a day after heavy flooding caused by Storm Dennis last week.

Parts of the planned diversion would also be affected if flooding hit the city again.