Major tailbacks for drivers in roadworks on the A483 at Oswestry

Roadworks are being carried out on the Maesbury Road junction on the A483 leading into Oswestry, to combat safety issues that have built up over the years.

Traffic lights are being installed at the junction, which has claimed a number of lives in recent years.

Work began on March 6, and is now moving into its second week with three-way traffic lights in the north and south bound directions, and on the road heading to Maesbury.

It has caused major tailbacks for commuters who travel over the border into Shropshire from Mid Wales and from North Wales and Shropshire into Montgomeryshire.

Accidents

The works, which are being done by contractors working for Highways England, are set to last for five months, but will aim to quash safety concerns that have built up in recent years. The junction has been the scene of many fatal and serious accidents over the past two decades.

Councillor Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s portfolio holder for highways and transport, said earlier this year that the current staggered junction has not worked, and urgent measures needed to be taken.

He said: “Improvements have been needed at the Maesbury Road junction for many years.

“There is a lot of heavy goods traffic that turns out of and into the industrial estate and a staggered junction is not the best option.

“The A483 is a major aerial route connecting north and south Wales with a small section running through Shropshire.

“We have been working with Highways England to bring about these safety improvements.”

The tailbacks caused from the temporary traffic lights hasn’t been the only problem for locals and motorists.

Safety concerns

Heavy goods vehicles being unable to access the A483 have been going up Weston Road through Morda, and the small village has seen a spike in the amount of traffic using its main roads.

Dog walkers in the area have raised safety concerns about large vehicles using the road, and local member, Councillor Joyce Barrow, has received numerous complaints in the first week of the works.

She said unsuitable and speeding traffic has been investigated by the local authority’s highways team.

This has led to a temporary weight restriction being installed on the Weston Road bridge, and new signs have been put in place to deter large vehicles from using the road as an alternative route.

Councillor Barrow said: “Safety has to be a priority for everyone concerned, and clearly heavy goods vehicles on country lanes are not acceptable, neither is dangerous traffic flow, particularly near schools and nurseries.”