Shropshire trunk road to close for maintenance

A Shropshire trunk road will be closed this weekend as part of ongoing controversial maintenance works at a level crossing.

The A49 will be closed tonight, Sunday, at Onibury, near Craven Arms, while Network Rail finishes off work at the site.

The road will be closed from 5pm until 5.30am on Monday morning.

Nathan Wallis, spokesman for the Highways Agency, said the road would re-open before the peak period and a diversion route would be clearly signposted. He said no further roadworks were scheduled for the A49 next week.

The work on the crossing has been to replace bits of equipment that have reached the end of their working life. This has included renewing the lights, barriers and power system.

Network Rail has also installed a yodel alarm to give people an additional warning.

So far the works, which have taken place over the last three weeks, have caused delays for motorists.

Mavis Choong, spokeswoman for Network Rail, added: "This is the last lot of work. We will be testing the level crossing equipment this weekend."