Start on £378,000 A5 roundabout work at Shrewsbury
Work has begun on a £378,000 project to widen lanes around an A5 roundabout on the outskirts of Shrewsbury.
The Highways Agency project started earlier this month at the Edgebold Roundabout and is expected to be completed by February.
A series of overnight road closures and speed restrictions will be imposed.
The A488 northbound and southbound approaches to the roundabout are being widened to two lanes to provide additional queuing space.
The project also involves altering the drainage system affected by the widening, removing and replacing kerbs, relocating signs and lighting columns, renewing road markings and studs and introducing lane markings on the roundabout.
The first phase of work began on November 4 and involved BT diverting a cable. The second phase of work began earlier this week and is due to take until January 13.
It will see the A448 southbound approach and northbound departure from the roundabout closed between 8pm and 6pm with the northbound approach and southbound departure having two-way temporary traffic lights in place.
The exception to this will be on Wednesdays in the run-up to Christmas when work will not start until 10pm to minimise disruption for late night shoppers. A 24-hour 30mph speed limit will be in place on the A448.
Phase three of the scheme is due to take place between January 13 and 24 and will involve overnight lane restrictions on the A5 eastbound and westbound and the Edgebold Roundabout from 8pm to 6am.
There will be occasional closures of the A5 eastbound when traffic will be diverted via the A458 Churncote roundabout, the B4380 and the A5112 to rejoin the A5 at Dobbies Roundabout.
A limit of 50mph will be in place on the A5.
Highways Agency project manager Jess Kenny said: "This junction suffers from congestion with traffic queuing during peak time travel period.
"By widening the side road approaches to the roundabout we will help to reduce the queues and improve journey times.
"During the work we advise road users to allow extra time for their journeys and to familiarise themselves with the diversion routes."
The work is part of a £317 million "pinch point" improvement programme designed to boost local economies, reduce congestion and improve safety on the strategic road network.
The Edgebold Island scheme is one of four announced for Shropshire last year.
