MP Daniel Kawczynski is asked to put the case for extending M54 to Shrewsbury
Extending the M54 to Shrewsbury would provide a huge economic boost, the town's MP has told highways chiefs.
Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, has called on Highways England to extend the motorway to Shropshire's county town, and now the agency has asked him to submit a report detailing the potential benefits of the proposal.
Currently the M54 ends at Wellington in Telford and becomes the dual carriageway A5.
Mr Kawczynski said that Shrewsbury's expansion needs to be supported by an improved highways network.
He said: "Highways England has approached me to ask for an explanation as to why this is an important scheme I have been lobbying them for a while about the importance of extending it to Shrewsbury.
"I think we can justify the investment because of the university, the expansion of Shrewsbury and the number of houses being built in the community."
Yesterday he tweeted:
Mr Kawczynski said that he believes the current transport network puts Shrewsbury at a disadvantage when trying to attract new businesses.
Ge said: "The thing that worries me is a lot of companies look at the motorway network when they are looking to invest in new sites so Telford is at a disproportionate advantage to Shrewsbury because of its connection to the network. I'd like to see the motorway brought all the way up to the Preston Boats Island."
"This is something that I know many people have raised with me from the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce."
Mr Kawczynski said that the region would continue to lose out on potential investment unless work is carried out to extend the motorway.
He said: "I have seen businesses rule out areas of the UK based on the motorway network.
"Until we get the motorway network extended to Shrewsbury it is proving difficult for some people who want to invest and that is why this is such an important issue."
