Overnight A49 roadworks push on into daytime
Highways bosses today said that major overnight roadworks on Shropshire's A49 will now have to take place in daylight hours to get the job done on time.
Daytime traffic lights have been set up at Wistanstow, just north of Craven Arms, as part of major resurfacing work between Craven Arms and Bushmoor.
Work had only been due to be carried out overnight. But officials at the Highways Agency said daytime work, resulting in one lane of the A49 being closed, was now necessary to finish on schedule.
The work is due to be completed within the next two weeks.
A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "Since the scheme was announced our contractor has informed us that lane closures and temporary traffic lights will be necessary during the day, as well as the previously publicised over-night closures. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.
"However we wish to reassure road users and residents the work will be completed as quickly as possible to minimise disruption."
Meanwhile officials at West Midlands Ambulance Service said they had been told they would have to follow lengthy diversions to take patients from south Shropshire towards Shrewsbury while the A49 was closed overnight, a claim which has been denied by Highways Agency officials.
Steve Parry, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said they had been told ambulances would have to follow diversions set up at night.
But he said in emergency situations ambulances could be diverted to other hospitals if required.
Meanwhile resident Phil Cole, who lives in Hope Bowdler, said the B4371 between Church Stretton and Much Wenlock earmarked for a diversion route at night was unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles and said there had been a number of accidents involving cars on icy stretches of the road over the past few days.
