Councillor calls for better coordination after 'severe congestion' caused by Bridgnorth roadworks

A Bridgnorth councillor is calling on Shropshire Council to better coordinate roadworks and highway repairs, following disruption in the town for the last two weeks.

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Reform UK Councillor George Hollyhead, who represents Brown Clee, says the current works have caused “severe traffic congestion” that has affected residents across the town.

He said while welcoming investment in the county's roads, he says the recent disruption has highlighted the “need for a more organised approach to planning works, particularly when multiple schemes and traffic management measures are operating at the same time”.

The councillor said recent resurfacing and improvement works on Underhill Street, Hollybush Road, New Road and West Castle Street have involved road closures, temporary traffic lights and diversion routes which have contributed to lengthy delays at key locations across Bridgnorth.

He also added that residents have experienced significant disruption at the B4364 and Telegraph Lane crossroads, where temporary four-way traffic lights further exacerbated congestion at a time when the town was already dealing with several major roadworks schemes.

Councillor Hollyhead said: "Nobody disputes that our roads need repairing. Residents have been asking for investment in highways maintenance for years, and I welcome work that improves the condition of our road network.

“However, what residents are rightly questioning is whether roadworks are being planned and coordinated effectively. The issue is not any individual scheme, but the fact that so many projects have been taking place at the same time. When road closures, temporary traffic lights and other traffic management measures all overlap, the result is gridlocked traffic across Bridgnorth.

“I received numerous complaints from residents across my Brown Clee division about the temporary four-way traffic lights at the B4364 and Telegraph Lane crossroads. I experienced the delays myself and spent around 20 minutes sitting in traffic at a junction that would normally take around 30 seconds to pass through. At one point, long queues were stretching back from every direction approaching the A458/B4364 roundabout.

“I'm simply asking for greater coordination and planning so that, where possible, major works are spaced out. Residents understand that repairs need to happen, but when several schemes coincide at the same time the disruption can become far greater than it needs to be.

“In some cases, it may even make sense for organisations to work together and carry out repairs under a single traffic management arrangement, rather than repeatedly disrupting motorists through separate schemes. What is important is that all parties involved communicate and plan effectively so that disruption is minimised.

“The issue is not the repairs themselves. The issue is ensuring that different roadworks and traffic management schemes are properly organised and coordinated so residents, businesses and visitors are not subjected to unnecessary delays."

He said he is calling on Shropshire Council, utility companies and contractors to work more closely together when scheduling future works, particularly on routes serving Bridgnorth and surrounding rural communities.

"Bridgnorth has a limited road network and very few alternative routes when key roads are affected. That means decisions about traffic management can have consequences far beyond the immediate area of the works,” said the councillor.

“We need well-maintained roads, but we also need a traffic management strategy that recognises the realities of moving around Bridgnorth and the surrounding villages. Better organisation between all parties involved would help reduce frustration and ensure residents see the benefits of these investments without experiencing unnecessary disruption."

A spokesperson for Shropshire Council said: “Shropshire Council's streetworks team has a statutory duty to co-ordinate and proactively manage activities taking place on the highway network, helping to minimise disruption wherever possible.

“Activities include utility works, council roadworks, housing and retail developments, and events. When coordinating works, consideration is given to the impact on businesses, schools, transport routes and local residents, including access and noise. We often see an increase on complex works throughout the school holiday period where school routes would otherwise be affected.

“To support coordination of street works, a working group involving the council, utility companies and developers meets regularly to review planned works, identify potential clashes, explore options for undertaking collaborative works and improve coordination.

“We all rely upon the utilities infrastructure and rightly expect a quality road network, so there is a balance to be struck between minimising disruption and maintaining this essential infrastructure that communities rely on. While overnight working is considered where appropriate to avoid daytime impact, it is not always the best solution as road restrictions often need to remain in place once excavations have been made, and night-time works can increase noise and disturbance for residents.

“In addition, some works are unplanned and need to be carried out urgently, such as utility faults, water leaks and emergency highway repairs."