Plans to improve road after tragedy

Wednesday 30th September 2009, 6:59PM BST.

Ben Somers One of Shropshire’s busiest road junctions, near to where a teenage cyclist died, has been earmarked for major improvement work early next year, officials confirmed today.

Council transport officials have unveiled plans for new measures on the road where 14-year-old Ben Somers lost his life last year, near to the Harlescott crossroads in Shrewsbury.

They said work was expected to begin early next year.

The plans are being worked out with part of the review including calculating how to carry out the work without relocating one of the main gas pipes into Shrewsbury which runs under the road.

The plans appear on the latest integrated transport schemes schedule for the county. It states that traffic signals will be updated, additional crossings put in and resurfacing work will be carried out on the “deteriorating carriageway”.

It adds that the budget and funding is under review with the exact programme to be confirmed.

Hugh Dannatt, group manager for traffic and highways at Shropshire Council, said: “We’ve put temporary markings in to take the road down to one lane for safety reasons. There is a 10-inch gas main under the side of the road and if we alter it it will cost an awful lot of money.”

Earlier this month work started on the removal of a filter lane at the junction.

Claire Bennett, who started a Facebook campaign to get the road layout changed, said: “It’s good news about the plans.”

View more: Harlescott news, Shrewsbury news.