'Accident waiting to happen' fear over Oswestry road closures

Stretches of the A5 between the Gledrid and Gobowen roundabout, and the Mile End and Churncote roundabout near Shrewsbury are still shut overnight with diversions in place.

Coupled with this, the A495, a major holiday route between Llynclys and Llansantffraid is closed between 9.30pm and 4pm each day up until July 7.

Diversions on that closure sends motorists onto the A490 towards Welshpool, and onto the A458 then A483 through Llanymynech.

Oswestry Parish Councillor Robert Milton believes the roadworks seem to be endless and is calling on the Highways Agency to complete works as soon as possible.

He said: "It seems to be going on forever, and coupled with that we have the issue between Llynclys and Llansantffraid, it's not in the parish but it is having a knock on effect for traffic coming into the area, with traffic on the back roads.

"It is an accident waiting to happen with the build up on the back roads, people do drive safely but it only takes one moment of silliness for it to happen.

"I'm appealing to the highways to get it done on time so we can get back to normal, but when we do other works seem to take place.

"I do appreciate what the crews have to put up with, and that is shown by them working overnight to try and get things done."

Shropshire Council are carrying out the works on the A495, and doing the work in the day time to avoid peak times, evening and weekends.

Steve Davenport, cabinet member for Highways said the road is in need of major maintenance.

He said: "This site was identified, via a combination of asset management data and local engineering judgement, as being in need of major maintenance.

"This incorporates structural repairs to the existing carriageway, the replacement of worn out ironwork and damaged kerbing, and also the strengthening of the carriageway edge.

"Many tasks are taking place simultaneously at multiple locations throughout the site, including the recycling of the existing carriageway surface. In order to protect both site staff and the public, we cannot carry out the work safely without a road closure, due to the site constraints.

“To mitigate disruption as much as possible, the closure is restricted to Mondays to Fridays 9.30am to 4pm each day, in order to avoid peak times, evening and weekends. Where practicable and safe, works may take place outside of these hours under temporary traffic signal control.”

The work between Mile End and Churncote began on May 30, and has seen the road closed between 8pm and 6am.

The stretch of the A5 north of Oswestry towards the Glendrid Roundabout has been causing hold ups since January, and is due to run until the end of this month as the Hughways Agency widen the approaches and carry out a number of other works.

Councillor Milton said the agency could have possible done the works in sections, instead of carrying them out at the same time, to avoid the amount of disruption it has caused to motorists.

He added: "It would be a whole lot better to do sections, you have the A5 to Gobowen from Gledrid shut and the A5 from Mile End towards Shrewsbury, maybe they could have done it in sections, but the highways will argue smaller stretches at a time cost more money.

"Work we want to see is on a dual carriageway on the A5, it is badly needed, but I don't believe we will see it because the money is just not there to finance it."

Further disruption is set to be caused in the area from mid July, as the agency confirmed the A483 between Mile End and Llanymynech will be effected between 9pm and 5pm through to September for pavement resurfacing.

Highways England service delivery manager, Purnima Kaul, confirmed they were aiming to complete as soon as possible.

“Gledrid roundabout is open fully during the day to traffic. Work overnight continues as the scheme enters its final stages, which we’ll aim to complete as soon as possible.

“We’re on course to complete other improvement works on the A5 next month.”