Busy Shrewsbury road to close for flood defence test
One of Shrewsbury's busiest roads will shut overnight for the annual trial of flood defence equipment in preparation for winter.
Coleham Head will be closed to traffic on September 30 from 10pm.
The trial, being undertaken by Shropshire Council's highways department, the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water, should be completed within four hours.
The road will be closed between its junctions with Longden Coleham and the English Bridge Gyratory. Both of these roads will remain open during the duration of the works.
Dozens of workers will take part in the trial to make sure everything is in full working order. They will deploy the flood defence wall across the road and will also use pumping equipment.
The eight-foot-high shuttered barriers help to protect the roads and nearby properties from encroaching flood waters when the river level rises.
A diversion scheme will be in place for motorists and staff will be on duty to aid drivers and pedestrians.
Bryan Glover, operations field team leader from the Environment Agency, said: "We have an exercise planned with Shropshire Council and Severn Trent Water on the evening of Wednesday, September 30 to trial and carry out essential maintenance to the Coleham Head flood defences.
"Environment Agency staff will be putting up the temporary flood barriers and completing the maintenance work.
"This is also an opportunity for us to test that our processes and equipment are in working order, as well as being a good refresher for our teams working with our professional partners that carry out this essential role.
"The exercise is scheduled to start at 10pm to minimise disruption to the public as the road will need to be closed."
The flood defences cost approximately £2.4 million when they were installed at Coleham Head in 2010/11.
A spokesman for Severn Trent said: "It's important that we test our systems and procedures to ensure we're prepared for any future flooding events, particularly coming up to the winter period.
"The defences protect 180 commercial and domestic properties including the historic abbey in the heart of Shrewsbury."
