A £1.3 million scheme to improve the layout of a Shrewsbury junction near to where a teenage cyclist lost his life has proved a big success in helping to improve safety, it was claimed today.

Work began in April to improve the safety of Harlescott Crossroads, in Shrewsbury, close to the site where 14-year-old Ben Somers died in October 2008.

The scheme finished about a month ago, having been originally meant to finish on August 27, before it was delayed after a large water main was discovered along the route.

Today Councillor Jon Tandy, who is a councillor on Shrewsbury Town Council and Shropshire Council and was involved in a Facebook campaign calling for the improvements and for one of the lanes to be removed, praised the scheme.

He said: “I’m pleased that they haven’t got the second lane and it’s still one lane which makes a massive difference for the safety of people in the area.

Smoothly

“I’m pleased with the development. It’s been an improvement and it’s nice to see that traffic is moving quite smoothly.

“I just hope now we won’t have to have any more roadworks on that road for some time as residents have been very patient.”

The work included resurfacing, improvements to the left slip road, from Whitchurch Road to Harlescott Lane, and improved pedestrian facilities including a new crossing and was funded by Shropshire Council with contributions from Tesco and Lidl.

Hugh Dannatt, group manager for traffic and highway engineering at Shropshire Council, said: “It’s running extremely smoothly and it’s a great improvement.”

Meanwhile Mr Dannatt warned motorists that speed limits have changed on some of the roads in the town.

Sundorne Road is now 30mph for its duration, the A5112 is 50mph except for Telford Way which is 40mph, and 30mph speed limits are in place on Whitchurch Road, Featherbed Lane, and on Battlefield Road from Harlescott Crossroads to Battlefield.

By John Kirk