WORK will start this weekend on a new noise barrier on the M50 near Bromsberrow Heath.

This will run for nearly half a mile alongside the eastbound carriageway, with the aim of reducing the traffic noise heard by the villagers.

Work begins on Sunday (March 7) with the installation of a traffic management system. While this takes place, the eastbound carriageway will be closed between junction two at Bromsberrow and junction four at Ross-on-Wye.

Traffic will be diverted from Ross via the A449 to Ledbury and the A417 back to junction two, and vice versa,

After that, the hard shoulder and the inside lane of the eastbound carriageway will be closed while the barrier is constructed. The rest of the road will be subject to a 40mph speed limit.

Work is expected to be finished on Sunday, May 2, when the carriageway will be completely closed for the day for the traffic management system to be dismantled. After the barrier is finished, a low-noise surface will be applied to the motorway. However, that is not likely to happen for about a year.

Parish council clerk David Read said Bromsberrow residents had been told four years ago that the work would be carried out in 2004.

"The noise from the motorway is something that has been getting steadily worse for years and for some years the council was pressing for action to be taken," he said.

"They told us in 2000 that work would be done in 2004 and now here it is.

"The village was asking for a noise barrier or a low-noise surface and we are to get both."

The £480,000 contract will be carried out by AmeyMouchel for the Highways Agency.