£30m Shrewsbury and Telford roads revamp underway
Major projects worth almost £30 million that will see roads around Shrewsbury and Telford transformed are now under way.
The first projects funded by the Government's Growth Deal include the £17.3 million Telford Growth Point Package, and the £12.18m Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package.
Telford's package will ultimately see six key junctions overhauled, at Trench Lock and Randlay, and roundabouts at Clock Tower, Shawbirch, Ketley Brook and Limekiln.
The programme is aimed at opening up additional housing and employment land, with estimates suggesting the moves could create more than 4,000 jobs and almost 3,000 homes.
Shrewsbury's transport package had originally been due to begin as part of a subsequent funding package following next year, but was brought forward and work has already begun, the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has confirmed.
It will include four major junction upgrades on main routes around the town, plus traffic management and transport initiatives to reduce congestion. The whole project will last six years.
The initial projects are part of a £75.3m allocation of government funding to the Marches LEP, with £20m more coming from the local area to support the schemes.
Subsequent funding will allow the Oxon Link Road in Shrewsbury to be built, potentially opening up the town's western bypass, as well as Telford's "Eastern Gateway" – junction 4 of the M54 – and the overhaul of the town's bus station.
Another roads project in Hereford is also under way, with another in the county to the south also lined up for next year.
In a briefing note to local MPs, the LEP said: "This substantial investment from Government will bring forward at least £20m of additional investment from local partners and the private sector.
"Combined, this will create a total new investment package of £95.3m for the Marches area.
"By 2021, this deal will deliver at least 6,000 jobs and allow 3,000 homes to be built."
When the funding was announced in July 2014, LEP chairman Graham Wynn said: "These are transport schemes which will unlock development sites, they are important pieces of work which need to be completed if we are to tackle a number of other schemes which will also drive economic growth in the region."
