'Woefully inadequate': MP says latest crash proves A5 through Shropshire must be a dual carriageway

Mr Paterson said that the latest accident which has left a carriageway closed between the Gledrid and Halton roundabouts near Chirk, proves it is woefully inadequate for the traffic that it carries.

With the holiday season approaching he fears more problems throughout the summer.

The northbound carriageway of the A5/A483 on the Chirk bypass remained closed yesterday following the crash on Monday, with Traffic Wales saying: "The road is closed for safety reasons for emergency works. It will remain closed until further notice."

A women had to be cut free from her vehicle which was precariously close to plunging over the road bridge over the Ceiriog River after hitting the carriageway barriers.

Mr Paterson said it was time the roads ministry acknowledged that the A5 must be dualled, something he has been pressing for since he became an MP.

Earlier this year the then roads minister, John Hayes, visited Shropshire to see the problems for himself as part of the strategic roads review.

He has now been replaced by MP Jesse Norman.

"I was due to meet Mr Hayes but because of the ministerial changes, that is not going ahead. However I have insisted on still meeting the ministry officials," he said.

"Although there are roadworks underway at one of the pinchpoints, the Gledrid island, what is needed in the long term is a dual carriageway.

"The holiday season is fast approaching and the traffic will only get worse as people from the Midlands and Shropshire travel to Wales throughout the summer."

Yesterday a meeting of representatives from Highways England, the Welsh Office and local authorities on both sides of the border, was held in Chirk to discuss the next phase of road improvements on the bypass.

Chirk Town Councillor, Frank Hemmings, said: "Once the Gledrid improvements have finished they will be turning their attention to the Halton roundabout."

"We have to consider the impact that these protracted roadworks are having on Chirk and also the impact of accidents on the road. Local residents are bearing the brunt of traffic, particularly heavy goods vehicles, diverted through the town. This week the traffic had been dreadful."