A controversial Ludlow road was reopened today as drivers were warned it was their last chance to keep traffic flowing.Lower Corve Street was closed yesterday because motorists were ignoring one-way signs and causing accidents just days after it was opened. But today the road was opened again by county council highways managers.

It now has a three-way traffic lights system in operation.

The road has been opened and shut several times in the last week amid safety fears.

Traders and councillors today criticised the county council for the way it had reopened the through road.

Hugh Dannatt, the county council’s group manager for traffic and highway engineering, today said drivers had “a last chance” to keep the road open.

He said: “Officers have investigated all opportunities to provide a safe route into Ludlow. The result is that Lower Corve Street will be opened today towards Ludlow but controlled by traffic signals at the junction of Bromfield Road and Lower Corve Street.

“The other end of Lower Corve Street will be restricted to access only; by this we mean that only visitors to properties in Lower Corve Street should use this junction.”

The road was closed while the collapsed Burway Bridge was replaced.

Mr Dannatt added the council would monitor the signals and the volume of traffic on the road and if it was abused the road would be closed again.

Peter Corston, south Shropshire district councillor for Ludlow, today called the situation “a mess”.

He said: “The traffic lights will encourage people down a road that is really closed and proper road markings can’t be painted on because of the rain.”

Graham Moore, owner of The Unicorn Pub on the road, said: “It should have been better organised. It has been opened and closed, opened and closed and no one knows where they stand. Locals are getting confused, the signs aren’t clear, it’s causing mayhem.

“I want it to be open as a through road as it has been for centuries.”

Martin Taylor-Smith, councillor for the Corve Ward said hopefully this would be the final version of the road system and added the road needed to be open safely to help traders.

By Catherine Roche