DELAYS and traffic queues are expected throughout the city as New Road closes across the weekend for flood prevention work.

The road closes at 8pm tonight (April 13) and will remain shut until 6am on Monday (April 16).

The £1.2 million flood prevention work will raise a 200m stretch of New Road by 15 inches in a bid to keep the city moving during periods of flooding.

Highway chiefs have warned drivers to expect disruption.

A road diversion will be in place for motorists through the city in a bid to reduce traffic on the Southern Link Road.

Cars heading towards St John’s from the city centre will be diverted in a single lane over the bridge, right down Hylton Road and then along Tybridge Street.

Traffic travelling eastwards into the city from St John’s will be restricted to one lane until the start of the bridge where it will return to the usual two lanes.

Pedestrian crossings will be provided during the closure but anybody crossing Hylton Road and Tybridge Street is reminded to be aware of traffic travelling in both directions.

Pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will still be able to use New Road throughout the closure.

First Bus Worcestershire is expecting severe delays on its services.

It has said its buses travelling through the city centre are likely to be delayed by traffic queues and other road users finding alternative routes.

The closure will affect the following bus services:

• 30 – Worcester to Dines green via St John’s

• 31 – City Centre, Martley Road, University, City Centre

• 31A - City Centre, Henwick Road, University, City Centre

• 31U – City Centre, University/Henwick via Hylton Road and St John’s

• X43 – Worcester to Great Malvern via Malvern Vale

• 44 – Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcester, Great Malvern via County Hall

• X44 – County Hall, Worcester, Great Malvern

• 363 – Worcester, Upton, Tewkesbury via Callow End, Hanley Swan, Welland and Ryall

• 373 – Worcester to Upton via Callow End, Hanley Swan, Welland and The Graftons

First Worcestershire has reminded bus users to allow extra time for their journey.

Motorists will still have access to the Premier Inn and Tybridge Street car parks.

The work is due to be completed on May 7.