Four years after £4 million upgrade - work is starting again at Mile End roundabout
Major work will be carried out on a roundabout which links two of Shropshire’s main trunk roads – just four years after a £4million upgrade.
The Mile End roundabout in Oswestry will be altered again, with an exit being widened in a bid to improve traffic flow.
Road markings will also be redrawn after complaints from drivers, who say the current layout is confusing and not in line with other roundabouts.
It comes as Highways England bosses moved to reassure people that roadworks on the busy A483/A5 route around Oswestry will be complete by the summer holidays. Hundreds of thousands of drivers use the route to travel to the Welsh beaches every summer.
Roadworks began this week to improve the Maesbury Road junction, a recognised accident blackspot, after which contractors will return to the nearby Mile End traffic island for a new round of improvements.
James Wildman, Highways England spokesman, said: “We’re investing in measures including traffic signals to improve safety and reduce queues at the Maesbury Road junction. After that work finishes we’ll carry out further improvements at the nearby Mile End roundabout.
“We’ll aim to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum and would like to thank people for their patience while this takes place.”
This week saw the temporary closure of both sides of Maesbury Road, south of the village and beyond and north into the Oswestry industrial estate. Temporary traffic lights had been installed on the busy trunk road, which were in use between 9am and 5pm.
Drainage work
Mr Wildman said: “We’ll be improving the layout of the junction and installing traffic signals to smooth the flow of traffic, reduce queuing on either side of the A483 and improve safety for both pedestrians and motorists.
“An additional lane will be added in both the north and southbound directions and street lighting will also be upgraded. There will also be drainage work to prevent flooding. Work will also take place to make a two-lane approach to the trunk road on the Maesbury Road. After works are finished at Maesbury, we’ll be widening the approach to the roundabout from Wrexham. We’ll also be renewing the road markings and reviewing signage.
“We will make every effort to finish the work before the summer holidays.”
He said the work to the roundabout would be done during overnight closures from 8pm until 6am.
The Maesbury road improvements have been welcomed by safety campaigners. Councillor Joyce Barrow, Shropshire Council member, said: “The Maesbury Road junction has claimed a number of lives over the years since it was first put in place.
“Oswestry Rural Parish Council has campaigned for changes to be made to this junction and I am delighted Highways England has come forward with this proposed scheme.”
