Residents still tormented by A41 roadwork closure chaos to meet tonight for talks
One week on, residents of rural communities affected by a major road closure and a 29-mile diversion still face "nightmare" traffic.
Last Monday, the full closure of the busy A41 brought "absolute chaos" to the surrounding communities. Residents affected by the closure are organising and plan to meet tonight.
Major improvement works are taking place on the road from Newport towards Market Drayton, with the road closed from the Forton roundabout to Telford and Wrekin’s northern Shropshire boundary near Hinstock.
The full 24-hour closure is expected to be in place until September 3. The planned diversion points drivers towards the A442 through Cold Hatton and Hortonwood.
Despite periods of calm, residents living in the maze of narrow country roads either side of the A41 are reporting that drivers are continuing to ignore the signed diversion, bringing chaos to their usually quiet communities one week in.
Sambrook residents report periods of heavy traffic, jams and even damage totheir walls and properties.
Keith Newton said: "I still feel frustrated. It's very varied and I don't understand what causes it.
"The worst was on Friday afternoon, I suppose with people going away or finishing work. You couldn't even get into our lane, traffic was standing solid all the way up the lane.
"There were HGVs in the queue, one of them obviously decided he'd had enough and ended up driving into a field to turn around. That really brought it home.
"Every time there is that amount of traffic, you know there is going to be damage. It just becomes a nightmare when you see it, just waiting for the damage."
Phil Street, also from Sambrook, said a vehicle count in the village on Friday afternoon from 4pm to 4.15pm counted 68 vehicles in just 15 minutes.
He said: "It looked like many of the cars were packed to go away on holiday, presumable heading towards Chester and North Wales.
"They're following their sat navs, not realising that they might not fit. I live by a barn that's been hit four or five times."
Residents are set to meet tonight to form a working group to help tackle the issues that have been brought into sharp relief by the traffic of the last few days.
Phil explained: "We thought it was a good idea for the residents to get together - it's not just Sambrook, there are quite a few areas affected.
"We're trying to coordinate a response and try and collect all the points and suggestions and see what can be done with it.
"The thought of another five weeks of this is unbearable."
Telford & Wrekin Council has been approached for comment.
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