Shropshire motorists are being blighted by roadworks which are causing chaos across the county – and council officials today revealed more closures are to come.

Dozens of road closures have seen traffic lights and diversions set up  in the first few weeks of this year. Drivers have been experiencing tailbacks and queues but more roadworks are set to begin this week.

These include temporary traffic lights in Ellesmere Road, Shrewsbury where Severn Trent Water is repairing a collapsed sewer. 

Residents and councillors claim the roadworks are causing “absolute mayhem”.

Other major work includes the closure of Albrighton High Street for more than two months for the construction of a new sewerage system and traffic lights on the B4373 at Northgate, Bridgnorth, until February 27.

To add to the chaos Trimpley Street in Ellesmere, was due to close today for eight weeks. The work will involve widening the footpaths from the junction with Victoria Street to the junction with Trimpley Court. 

Work to strengthen Maestermyn Canal Bridge, which carries the A495 road over the Shropshire Union Canal near Welsh Frankton, started on January 5 for six weeks.

Both the canal and the towpath passing under the bridge will be closed. The A495 remains open under traffic light control.

Work is also expected to start on the Roft Street/Middleton Road junction in Oswestry from January 26 for six weeks where the county council is installing traffic signals and a pedestrian crossing.

It is also advising people and businesses that roadworks are scheduled to take place until March in Ludlow.

In Oswestry roadworks in Salop Road brought the town centre to a standstill on Friday with some people complaining of hour-long delays. The work to install a new gas service is likely to last until the early part of this week.

Drivers have also been suffering months of delays on the Moors Straight on the A483 between Welshpool and Four Crosses while an extensive flood alleviation scheme is carried out and further along the same stretch of road, just before Four Crosses.

Temporary traffic lights have been put in place while contractors carry out preliminary work for the long-awaited bypass for the village.

By Rhea Parsons