West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed news that Highways England will finally lift lane closures which have caused extensive traffic delays for county motorists. The lane closures on the M5 at junction 4a have caused long tailbacks through the county and Harriett has campaigned against the traffic management since the measures were first introduced 18 months ago. Highways England has now written to the MP confirming that it intends to lift the lane restrictions after Christmas – although speed restrictions will remain in place under the Sixways roundabout improvements at junction 6. Harriett said: “This decision has taken far too long but I welcome the news – as I am sure will every motorist who has been delayed by this artificial traffic pinch-point. “The purpose of the lane closure was to reduce delays in Birmingham along the Oldbury Viaduct roadworks and for some reason, Highways England felt it was acceptable to delay county motorists instead. “I have always felt that better communication and signage would have been the better technique for managing traffic and I hope that Highways England have got the message that this strategy was not acceptable. “The work will continue in Birmingham until the Spring, but I hope that this decision to remove the lane closures will mean that our county motorists are able to have a less stressful commute getting towards Birmingham and beyond.”