Back to normal as road reopens

Friday 26th March 2010, 10:26AM GMT.

SD3374585@SH3BOOM 7 Shrewsbury town centre was returning to normality today with a section of road fully reopened to traffic more than three months after a huge gas explosion destroyed a building and left 12 people hurt.

Part of Smithfield Road had been shut since the blast on January 3.

Work has had to be carried out to replace the badly damaged traffic signals.

Shropshire Council said that in order to minimise future disruption, it also brought forward improvement works to the junction. It is hoped the junction will improve cycling and pedestrian links in the town.

The improvements are part of the Cycle Shrewsbury programme.

Shirehall chiefs today stressed that the town was now fully accessible and people should not be put off from visiting.

Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: “I am really pleased that these works have been completed and this busy junction can be reopened.

“I would like to thank people for their patience.”

Councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill Dr Maxwell Winchester said: “The team has done a great job and I look forward to seeing pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road safely at this junction.”

Further work will be carried out to ensure the traffic signals are working correctly and evening lane closures will be needed on Wednesday and Thursday.

View more: Shrewsbury Explosion news.