Motorists face more A49 roadworks misery as three months of closures planned for Shropshire road

Prolonged drainage work means the road will be closed overnight to traffic between Church Stretton and Craven Arms from September 18.

The road, which is one of the county's busiest – and has been plagued by recent closures – will be shut from 8pm and 6am for the duration of the work.

It will be shut between the junction with the B4371 Sandford Avenue, at Church Stretton, and the junction with the B4368 Corvedale Road, at Craven Arms.

Layby closures will also be in operation from 8pm on September 17, and continue 24 hours a day for the duration of the work.

The work is being carried out in phases and drivers will also face a 40mph speed limit during the day.

Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North, expressed his frustration at the latest work.

He said: "The A49 is forever being closed for repairs but it never gets to be a better road.

"This year the A49 has been closed at night for months. It was closed all day for 10 days to repair the Onibury rail crossing. But the A49 remains a slow and a dangerous road. We need a proper plan to upgrade the road.

"We must also encourage more drivers to use the rail service between Ludlow and Shrewsbury instead of crawling along this slow and congested road."

Roadworks on the A49 in Shropshire this year include:

• Full closure of the road for about 10 days around Onibury to replace the level crossing at the start of July.

• Closed overnight for more than a week, first for pavement work, then for drainage work north of Craven Arms in July.

• Closed overnight from August until September for an 11 mile stretch between Bayston Hill and Church Stretton until September 17.

• Closed overnight to traffic between Church Stretton and Craven Arms from September 18 for three months for drainage works.

David Evans, Shropshire councillor for Craven Arms and Church Stretton, said: "This will impact on residents once again.

"What I don't understand is why can't all these different groups get together and do the works they need to do at the same time.

"This would cause less impact and less inconvenience.

"Instead it will have another major impact on residents and is very frustrating.

"There is no logic or joined up thinking."

During the drainage works, vehicles being used by the emergency services and vehicles being used in connection with the scheme will be exempt from the closures and prohibitions.

Access to properties will also be maintained at all times.

Diversion routes via the B4368, A458 and A5 will be signposted and local diversions will also be in place.

The work will mean more delays for motorists travelling on the road that links the county town of Shrewsbury to south Shropshire and south Wales.

Resurfacing work is currently taking place on the A49 until September 17.

The road is being closed overnight north and southbound for an 11 mile stretch between Bayston Hill and Church Stretton.

The closure, which runs from 8pm to 6am, is for contractors Kier, working on behalf of Highways England, to carry out repairs to the road surface, lay new studs, and paint new markings.

Recent work on the A49 has also included a full closure of the road for 10 days around Onibury to replace the level crossing.

That closure saw traffic diverted away from the main trunk road for the entire stretch between Ludlow and Shrewsbury at the start of July.