Mile End junction officially opened but work still not complete
The new Mile End junction in Oswestry has been officially opened.
It is hoped the new double-roundabout layout will will ease congestion along the A5 and A483 between Shrewsbury and Mid Wales.
However work is still continuing on what is the third version of the roundabout in less than a decade after a previous multi-million pound project did not prove good enough.
The junction is open for motorists, with final work to commission the permanent street lighting and complete landscaping set to continue over the coming weeks, with planting being completed later in the spring.
Councillor Ed Potter, deputy leader at Shropshire Council, said: "I am absolutely delighted to see the new junction going live, it will bring huge benefits to Oswestry and the wider economy of Shropshire and surrounding areas.
"It will help secure growth and development to Oswestry and the county.
"The next phase will be a spine road which will enable the Innovation Park to be built and we are now looking forward to working on that and bringing ambitious partners on board."
To facilitate the work, a section of the old A5 remains closed for the short term and there will be periodic use of traffic management measures to ensure safety to the public and workforce.
The project has been delivered on time and to budget and has been made possible by support from partners at the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Homes England.
The new Innovation Park area will also be made accessible for pedestrians and cyclists by the construction of a new bridge over the A5 which is due to commence later in the year.
A special ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the site this week, with Councillor Potter and local member, Councillor Joyce Barrow, on hand to declare the road open, along with senior officers from the council, WSP, LEP, Homes England and Balfour Beatty.
