WORK to ease congestion in one of the county’s worst traffic hotspots begins this week.

The £5 million investment will see the start of work on the often congested A442 Worcester Road just outside Kidderminster.

The money is part of a pledge by Worcestershire County Council to find and tackle congestion sites across Worcestershire over the next two years.

Councillor Alan Amos, cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said: "Like in many places across the country, traffic congestion causes our residents a huge amount of frustration.

“I am determined to tackle the worst of our hot spots and get Worcestershire moving.

“That is why we have invested £5 million, allowing our expert engineers the resources they need to make a real difference up and down the county."

The council's list of hotspots includes the A44 through the city which will be combated by a complete redesign of the City Walls Road, Sidbury and Commandery Road interchange – including new pedestrian crossings.

The Croft Road zebra crossing is also on a council list of improvements.

The council is also working with Wychavon District Council to develop an Evesham Transport Strategy, to explore and pursue options to alleviate congestion in the town.

In addition to the £5 million investment, Worcestershire County Council was also successful last year with bids to the Department for Transport, worth a total of £6.6million.

The initial funding has just been received and will used to support two key congestion areas in Worcester and Bromsgrove.