A41 Lorry crash house: Road expected to reopen on Monday
Demolition work on a house hit by a lorry on the A41 in Shropshire is set to be completed this weekend, meaning the road should reopen on Monday. A Shrposhire Council spokesman said this afternoon: "Following a meeting this morning, the site at Shakeford on the A41 has now been deemed as safe, and work will continue over the weekend to ensure the area and roadside is cleared and ready for reopening "The surveyor acting for the insurance company advised, with our agreement, that the remaining cellar would be filled to ground level with compacted hardcore to remove any further health and safety issues.
"It is anticipated that this operation will be completed today, allowing materials from the demolition to be removed from site.
"The contractors have confirmed they are aiming to complete the levelling of the site, removal of all materials and the removal of the welfare unit from the highway no later than Sunday morning.
"This will allow Shropshire Council's highways team to arrange for the necessary remedial works to be completed on Sunday.
"It is anticipated that the road will reopen on Monday. The road opening will be confirmed over the weekend.
The house was initially going to be taken down brick by brick. But, as concerns grew about its safety, the decision was taken to flatten it.And, once the call was made, bulldozers made light work of the listed building, once a family home.
That is good news for people caught up in the chaos caused by the accident, between Newport and Market Drayton, in which a lorry smashed into the house.
The decision to remove the entire building was made yesterday because officials said the damaged property continued to pose a serious risk to members of the public and contractors.
Barriers remain on the road outside the house, which was set to remain closed until about mid-August. However this date could now be brought forward now that the job ahead involves a simple disposal of piles of bricks.
The lorry left the A41 and crashed into Fox House at about 11pm last Tuesday, and police believe a second lorry was involved, but did not stop.
The main diversion route from the north is directing traffic at Tern Hill island onto the A53 towards Hodnet, then onto the A442 into the Telford and Wrekin area, then onto the B5062 at Crudgington towards Newport, before re-joining the A41.
The diversion from the south is in reverse and starts in Telford and Wrekin.
Police say some lorry drivers have been using a different diversion and been seen travelling through Hinstock, causing issues there.
Constable Mick Sturland, of West Mercia Police's safer neighbourhood team for Market Drayton, said: "We are getting calls about HGV drivers driving at speed through areas of Hinstock following the A41 diversion."
He urged people to take a note of registration numbers and call police on 101.
