Shrewsbury town centre road closures planned for work on railway bridges expected to take four months

Network Rail will be carrying out essential maintenance works to the Castle Foregate and Great Western railway bridges in Shrewsbury between May and September.

The work - which will include cleaning, repairing, and repainting parts of the bridges - is scheduled to be carried out between May 23 and September 11.

As part of the project, the existing pigeon-proofing panels will also be replaced with new mesh to address the problem of pigeons roosting and fouling under the bridge.

The Great Western bridge is set back from the road on Castle Foregate between Star BBQ Kebab and The Shrewsbury Ark.

Shropshire Council said the works are important to “ensure the long-term safety and integrity of the structures”.

During the work, the bridges will remain open to vehicles during daytime hours but the work will require the closure of Castle Foregate, Cross Street and Howard Street on several nights for the erection and removal of scaffolding, and to prepare and paint the structures.

Overnight road closures will be required for five consecutive weeks commencing Sunday, June 7. A further two-week period of overnight closures, operating Sunday to Thursday, will be required during the final two weeks of the scheme. These closures are required to facilitate the erection and dismantling of scaffolding.

During these periods, Castle Foregate, Cross Street and Howard Street will be closed overnight Monday to Thursday, between 8pm and 6am.

There will be no overnight road closures on Friday nights, and a pedestrian footway will remain open during these overnight closures.

In addition, throughout the duration of the scheme and commencing on Sunday, May 24, early-morning road closures will be required on Sunday mornings, between 12.30am and 7am.

Shropshire Council said these closures are scheduled during the early hours to provide the longest continuous period when no trains are running, which is necessary for certain elements of the works to be carried out safely.

During the closures, a signed diversion route will be in place, and access for emergency services will be maintained at all times. Shropshire Council said the fire service has been engaged with directly to mitigate the impact of the work.

While work is underway, the footpath on the station side of Castle Foregate/Castle Gates will be closed to pedestrians, with an alternative signed pedestrian diversion route provided directing pedestrians to the footpath on the opposite side of the road.

To minimise the impact of the work on road users, Shropshire Council said it has also been working closely with contractors Amco Giffen, Network Rail, the emergency services, local businesses and the local councillor.

David Vasmer, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways, said: “We appreciate that the area has recently undergone significant work and we have been working closely with the emergency services, local businesses and others to ensure that they are aware and informed and have the chance to raise any concerns in advance.

“This scheme has been programmed to minimise impact as far as possible, with most activity taking place at night and the bridges remaining open during the day.”

The local authority said residents, businesses, and the emergency services will be notified directly, and advance warning signage will be installed on site prior to the work commencing.