Shropshire Star

20mph limit on town centre roads to be introduced

A 20mph speed limit will be introduced on a number of roads in a town centre from tomorrow.

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The limit will be introduced on several town centre streets

The work is part of the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package (SITP), and follows a public consultation that ran in early 2019.

The 20mph limit will be introduced along the entirety of Barker Street, Bellstone, Bridge Street, Claremont Hill, Claremont Street, Hill’s Lane, Lower Claremont Bank, Mardol, Mardol Quay, Priory Road, Roushill Bank, St Austin’s Friars, St Austin’s Street, Victoria Avenue, Victoria Quay, and Welsh Bridge.

It will also be 20mph in Claremont Bank from its junction with St Austin’s Street for a distance of 15m southbound, Roushill from its junction with Mardol to its junction with Raven Meadows, and Smithfield Road from its junction with Welsh Bridge to its junction with Mardol.

To control the speed of traffic, four flat-top road humps are in the process of being constructed across the full width of the road at Roushill (junction with Mardol), Shoplatch (opposite Natwest Bank), Mardol (junction with Claremont Street), and Bellstone (junctions with Claremont Street, Shoplatch and St John’s Hill).

As part of this work, there will be changes to some of the parking and loading restrictions in Bellstone, Claremont Street and Mardol.

New pavements

Under the current phase of the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package, work is being carried out between Smithfield Road and Bellstone, on Roushill, Mardol and Claremont Street.

New natural stone kerb lines are being constructed to provide wider pavements and new pedestrian crossing points. The pavements are being repaved with natural stone materials. Updated street furniture including benches, planters, bins and an increased number of cycle racks are also planned, as well as traffic sign upgrades.

Surfacing works will also take place at end of March/early April to resurface Claremont Street, the junction of St John’s Hill/Bellstone/Shoplatch along Bellstone and into Barker Street.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “This phase of the work is key to improving the public and urban realm for Shrewsbury. The enhancement works – and these new 20mph speed limits – will make the town centre much more attractive to – and safer for – visitors, but especially pedestrians and cyclists.”

Work is being carried out by McPhillips, Shropshire Council’s contractor. During the works they will be available to address any day-to-day issues that may arise, liaising with businesses regarding loading bay requirements, and accessibility to business and residential premises.