WORK to reopen a tunnel that was filled in during the Second World War has started as the £11.6 million restoration project on Droitwich’s canals enters its final stages.

There will be some traffic disruption while the work underneath the A449 Worcester to Kidderminster road is carried out between now and June because of lane closures and temporary speed limits.

Once complete, the tunnel will connect the Droitwich barge canal to the river Severn once again. The first six locks from the river to Porters Mill will also be restored along with the creation of a new river entrance.

Jon Fraser, who is Worcestershire County Council’s community and response manager for highways, said: “We’re all excited to be playing a key part in this excellent project that will cement Droitwich and Worcestershire even more firmly on the tourism map.

“However, the works do require infringement on to the carriageway and that means there’s likely to be disruption for commuters.

“We’ve worked hard to plan out the works to keep this disruption to a minimum.”

There are currently lane closures on both carriageways to allow the construction of cross-over points either side of the canal bridge.

The northbound carriageway will be closed, with a contraflow on the southbound carriageway, from Wednesday, November 26.

From Wednesday, March 4, this will be reversed, with the southbound carriageway shut and a contraflow on the northbound carriageway.

There will be a 40mph speed limit in force from Claines roundabout to Chatley Lane for the duration of the work.

We previously reported in your Worcester News how the old bridge crossing was filled in by Italian prisoners of war when a stronger road was needed for tanks on their way from Liverpool to the south coast for the D-Day landings.

Once the Droitwich canals restoration project has been completed, there will be a 21-mile cruising ring which is expected to give the local economy a boost.