Work due to start on major road revamp in Shrewsbury

Work will get under way next week on a major £250,000 road improvement scheme in Shrewsbury.

The first phase of improvement work on the London Road enhancement project will start on Monday and last for up to three weeks. A new zebra crossing will be installed in London Road, between the junction with Ebnal Road and the main entrance to Shrewsbury College.

Sections of the main road and pavements will also be resurfaced.

The work, costing about £50,000, will form the first part of a major improvement scheme in London Road which was approved by councillors in June.

Phase two, which will involve another zebra crossing in Preston Street near the Column roundabout and other resurfacing work, will cost £200,000.

The scheme comes after residents raised safety fears over using the existing pavement space for two-way walking and cycling.

The council has admitted the scheme will cause disruption to residents, commuters, and staff and students at Shrewsbury College and Prestfelde but said it would carry out a large section of the work during the school holidays.

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council's cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said: "It's great that this work has been brought forward to take place during the summer holidays when the road is quieter.

"The installation of this crossing will benefit many people wishing to cross this busy road."

Liz Parsons and Jon Tandy, Shropshire councillors for Bayston Hill, Column and Sutton, said: "We are pleased that residents will begin to see some improvement to this major access road into Shrewsbury."

Council bosses say every effort will be made to minimise disruption. The work will be undertaken by the council's contractor Ringway, and will be supervised on site by staff from its consultants Mouchel.