Summer of roadworks misery for Shropshire motorists

Busy routes such as the A5 and A483 near Oswestry, the A49 in south Shropshire and the A41 near Newport will be among roads affected, while one lane of the Ketley Dingle island at junction six of the M54 will be closed for 14 weeks for water pipe repairs. Night-time lane closures will also take effect on some of the projects, and roadworks have also been lined up for a number of minor roads.

Officials at the Highways Agency have said they are "constantly in talks" with utility companies about repairs which cause disruption to roads. Shropshire Council has also pledged to fine companies which take too long to complete scheduled work.

Pragati Baddhan, for the Highways Agency, said: "We are constantly in talks with the utility companies about the work they have planned that will affect roads in the region. We work closely with them and try to coordinate roadworks whenever we can.

"Obviously there are times when those utility companies, councils and ourselves have to carry out emergency work and when that happens we inform the public as quickly as possible."

Callum McLagan, for Shropshire Council, said it has the power to fine companies up to £10,000 per day if they take too long.

Severn Trent Water will carry out pipework upgrading over the next 14 weeks which will mean lane closures at junction six of the M54 at the Ketley Dingle roundabout from Monday.

The work comes just weeks after the junction was reopened by the Highways Agency, which closed it for six months to do bridge strengthening works. There are also highways works on junction five of the motorway and the adjacent Forge Roundabout until Thursday as the Highways Agency seeks to avoid the roundabout becoming a "pinch-point".

Both the A5 at Nesscliffe and the A483 at Pant will have traffic lights and some night closures this month. Drivers will be sent on a 26-mile diversion when the A483 is closed in Pant for the replacement of lighting cables. The Highways Agency is resurfacing the Nesscliffe bypass and drivers will be diverted through the village.

The B4393 between Llansantffraid and Carreghofa, near Oswestry, is closed for up to seven weeks because of water mains work. In the south of the county, the A49 between the B4361 and Sheet Roundabout, near Ludlow, will shut overnight from Monday to Wednesday for resurfacing work.

The A49 has temporary traffic lights in Dorrington until Tuesday while a pedestrian crossing is created.

Roads closed in south Shropshire include the B4355 at Clun, which will be closed until August 1 because of a landslide, and the B4368 at Hurst Bends, which will be closed until June 1. Work on the Wagbeach bends, near Minsterley, will take place from May 27 to 30.

Resurfacing work will take place on the A5 Shrewsbury bypass near Gains Park until May 30. Temporary traffic lights will be on Wenlock Road until May 30 for the building of a zebra crossing. On the A53 near Shawbury, BT will carry out work until Monday, and there are works at Black Park in Whitchurch until Tuesday.

The road at the Aston Bridge in Wem is closed during the daytime until June 25.

Work by BT is affecting the A419 at Homer, near Much Wenlock, until May 29 . The A41 at Weston Heath, near Newport, has traffic control until May 30 and there are temporary road closures in Wheaton Aston until June 1. In Bridgnorth, the A442 has been subject to lane closures in Low Town for utility works.

And major roadworks in Telford Town Centre, including Grange Central, Coach Central and Hollinsgate Roundabout,are expected to continue until June 11.