£12m traffic masterplan for Shrewsbury town centre to be unveiled to public
A multi-million pound plan to reduce traffic in Shrewsbury's town centre will be put before the public in the autumn.
Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package, estimated to cost about £12 million, will present a number of measures aimed at alleviating congestion and improving town centre pedestrian areas.
Simon Jones, who is Shropshire Council's cabinet member for highways, said the idea behind the plan, which has been supported by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, was to stop people driving through the town unnecessarily.
He said: "This scheme aims to discourage inappropriate 'through traffic' movement, while improving the inner ring road, alternative traffic routes and transport options."
There are a number of different elements to the plan, which remains subject to external funding, including improvements to four major junctions on main routes into Shrewsbury, and the inner ring road.
The junctions included in the proposal included Meole Brace roundabout, Reabrook roundabout, the English Bridge gyratory, and the Longden Coleham/Belle Vue junction. Councillor Jones said the work would allow the management of traffic flows in and around the town centre, improving the reliability of journey time.
The package also includes a proposal to upgrade traffic lights on routes to the town centre.
Another part of the proposal will be for improvements to pedestrian areas of the town centre for shoppers, in Pride Hill, Shoplatch, High Street, and The Square.
Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town council, welcomed the scheme and said he hoped it could pave the way for more pedestrianisation in the town.
He said: "It is great news that the town is getting this funding and I hope that the plans are drawn up very carefully to maximise their impact and deal with some of the highly significant problems we have in Shrewsbury and the Shrewsbury area."
But Shrewsbury Town and Shropshire Councillor Peter Nutting questioned whether the money could be better spent elsewhere.
He said: "If there is spare money what's needed is improvement to road surfaces and drainage in Shrewsbury and rural areas."
