Long delays for drivers as Shrewsbury bridge works begin
[gallery] Motorists in Shrewsbury town centre are facing long delays after major work to refurbish a railway bridge began.
Workers from Network Rail began a revamp of the Castle Foregate railway bridge, close to the main railway station, yesterday after Shropshire Council introduced a traffic management plan in the area.
Only one lane of traffic will be open while work is carried out and drivers have been queuing down a long stretch of St Michael's Street.
Work is expected to last around four weeks. It will be carried out in two parts, focusing on half of the bridge width at a time.
Work to corner part of the road off and start the work began yesterday morning with traffic signs and warnings put in place.
Nigel Stokes, manager of Comet Cars, yards from the railway bridge in Castle Foregate, said he thought the improvement works would be beneficial in the long run.
He said: "The junction has always been pretty bad for traffic so this has obviously added to it and there have been long queues but we're still getting our cars around okay.
"I think these improvements will be good for us eventually."
Simon Bendall, manager of Station News, close to the railway station, said he thought it would cause major disruption for motorists, but surrounding businesses would cope.
