Shropshire's notorious A529 to get Government cash to make it safer
It is notorious for serious accidents and has been recognised as one of the 50 roads with the worst safety record in Britain.
But now the A529, which runs north and south of Market Drayton, is set to benefit from a slice of £175 million Government funding to make it safer.
Today those who live and work close to the road welcomed the investment, saying they hope it will improve safety and consign its reputation for being an accident blackspot into history.
The Department for Transport says it will work with Shropshire Council to improve the road.
Councillor David Minnery, mayor of Market Drayton, today welcomed improvements being made to the road.
"Anything that helps us improve local roads must be welcomed," he said.
"We all know that there are budget pressures on every department so this extra money will be a great help.
"Of course, we have already benefited locally from the work previously done on the Adderley Road and at Tern Hill roundabout, but to be able to continue to improve road safety is appreciated."
Earlier this year more than 5,000 tons of surfacing material was used to improve the A529 north of Adderley
The latest investment comes as a major £1.3m funding pot has been handed to Shropshire Council in a bid to rid the region's roads of potholes.
Details have been announced of which projects the extra £3 billion pledged for transport in the Government's autumn statement will be spent on.
Among projects to get a cash boost are plans for a long-awaited northern relief road around Shrewsbury, which was announced by Chancellor Phillip Hammond last week.
Shropshire Council will get £1.3m to spend on potholes in the next financial year, slightly more than the £1m it got this year, while Telford & Wrekin will get £250,000, up from £176,000.
"It's all good news for us," Councillor Malcolm Pate, Shropshire Council leader, said.
In a statement from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, the minister said he was "setting out further details" of £1.3bn of new funding announced in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement.
He said £70m extra from the Pothole Action Fund was being allocated to local authorities in 2017/18.
