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A UK town is in uproar about "hazardous", disruptive and deafening roadworks. Retirees said they were sleep-deprived due to construction activity during the early hours, parents were worried about their children's welfare as they navigated roads congested with HGVs, and drivers were exasperated by the traffic congestion.

The roadworks form part of a National Highways (NH) scheme to install cyclist and pedestrian crossing facilities at Dunnings Bridge Road in Netherton, West Midlands. After an HGV struck the bridge in October 2022, it was assumed that NH would replace it, but an assessment deemed it not feasible and unaffordable. So, in August last year, NH revealed plans to install a new pedestrian crossing instead.

Barbara McIntyre, 70, who has lived in the area since 1993, revealed she hasn't slept for the past three nights as she awaits a major operation, for which she had been advised to get plenty of rest.

"This work is going on from 7pm at night to 5.30am in the morning, and we're really suffering here with all this now," she said.

"I'm feeling drained, absolutely drained. I was crying this afternoon, I'm that tired. I'm waiting to go to hospital to have a knee replacement, and they've said to me to try and keep myself fit now, but I'm just going down," she told the Liverpool Echo.

She has recorded several videos that appeared to show construction activity during the early hours. "It's been horrendous. The workers come on about half seven, to eight o'clock, and then it's just mayhem, wagons going up and down, the heavy big machinery, you want to hear it."

Even with the windows shut in the back room of the house, she "can't sleep" because of the noise.

She added: "Besides the roadworks, the big problem is the noise and danger of the big wagons going around the residential roads. They're blocking the roads off. We're right by a school and kids can't get across, because these lorries are stuck there, it's dangerous."

Her husband Vinnie, 69, emphasised how the roadworks are impacting the lives of local residents, and claimed NH promised they were going to renew the bridge.

"I drive a bus for a transport company that takes disabled children to a special school, and we have to go down Dunnings Bridge every morning, every workday. So now, with the roadworks and the diversions, and the traffic, it's been absolute chaos," Vinnie said.

"It's constantly stop, start, stop, start, with the pedestrian crossing being put in, it's mayhem, and a lot of people around here are very angry, but also scared the area is an accident waiting to happen."

Earlier this week, a Facebook post attracted hundreds of responses from residents troubled by the roadworks. One wrote that while they were walking their child to school, a "JCB type" vehicle was driving alongside them with a driver on the phone.

"A car behind became impatient and overtook it, so drove on the wrong side of the road down copy lane. My [child] even recognised how dangerous this all was. This needs to stop, our children should be safe walking to school and they are not."

Another added: "These roads are not designed for this extra weight and have all been tearing up the roads, we already have massive issues with pot holes but now these roads look like they have been drilled into.

"One ripped up a massive chunk of tarmac going over the bumps on the road! This has to stop, it's bloody dangerous now."

Last December, residents near Netherton Green reported that the influx of heavy goods vehicles had led to a cat being killed, local structures being damaged, and generated concern throughout the neighbourhood.

Resident Margie Duff commented at the time: "National Highways promised us the works wouldn't impact us, but that has not proven to be the case, because now we're all very worried about the safety of our roads, and with traffic building up, there's more and more delays, noise, dust, and it's just atrocious."

They also claimed the HGVs were not using the correct diversion routes. An NH spokesperson acknowledged awareness, though stated that its contractors were not responsible.

An NH spokesperson said: "We value our relationship with the local community and, following feedback, improvements were introduced at the end of last year to reduce vehicle movements to and from the site compound on Copy Lane, which has significantly limited the number of vehicles entering and leaving.

"We haven't received any complaints about the matters raised, nor has the contractor. We are also not working overnight in the area. We encourage people to attend our weekly drop-in sessions or contact us should they have any concerns."

Peter Dowd MP, an outspoken critic of National Highways' decision, addressed the latest incidents. He stated: "I have heard of the concerns expressed by residents about traffic movements as part of the road works.

"I'll be in contact with National Highways to find out what they are doing to monitor the management of contractor vehicles and HGVs traffic and what action they intend to take to ensure safety is the top priority."