Shropshire and Mid Wales motorists facing a chaotic start to 2016 as more roadworks announced
Motorists are set for a chaotic start to 2016 – with four major roads in Shropshire and Mid Wales hit with closures in the coming weeks.
The M54 faces more works, along with major routes the A49, A483 and the A458.
All four projects are likely to cause disruption and are the latest examples of roads in the region being dug up.
Signs went up last night warning of the fourth closure on the M54 since November. The slip road onto junction four for Shifnal and Priorslee is set to be closed overnight on January 15 and 18 for further planned roadworks. The road will be closed between 8pm and 6am.
Elsewhere, the A-road works are set to affect traffic south of Shrewsbury, around Welshpool and towards Buttington. Drivers today spoke of their frustration at the frequency of roadworks in the region. John Davies, 25, lives in Telford but regularly has to travel to Birmingham on the motorway.
He said: "It has been hell on earth on the M54 in recent weeks because of resurfacing. But there is clearly still work to be done. Parts of it are like a B road because the surface is so bad."
The eastbound section of the M54 near to junction four was closed for several days and nights during November and December for repairs. Work between the Cosford and Wolverhampton exits overran due to bad weather and only reopened on December 15.
The motorway was then closed overnight eastbound from junction three at Cosford to junction two at the i54 on December 23 for resurfacing works.
There were also long-running M54 works in the first half of 2015 that saw an extensive 40mph speed limit put in place.
Elsewhere, at least three overnight closures will take place on the A49 between Dobbies roundabout, south of Shrewsbury, and Church Stretton, as a new pedestrian crossing is installed at Bayston Hill.
The A483 trunk road is facing delays in January. There will be temporary traffic lights and the possibility of night-time closures on the Welshpool bypass on the Welshpool Railway Station roundabout and also between the B4381 Smithfield Road and the A458 road to Shrewsbury until January 31.
