Plea for patience as work goes on at notorious Oswestry junction

Work began in March to install traffic lights on the Maesbury Road junction in Oswestry, an area that has been notorious for crashes in recent years.

The work is set to take up to five months and has been causing major tailbacks, with traffic lights in the north and southbound direction, and the road leading to Maesbury out of Oswestry also closed.

While the tailbacks continue to frustrate commuters, Highways England have asked them to be patient and a special sign has been installed to remind motorists to drive safely near the roadworks.

The sign was designed by a young artist, and says 'It's better to be late in this life than early in the next.'

Jim Wildman from Highways England insisted works were on course to finish before the summer holidays and said: "Safety is at the heart of what we do and the sign, designed by a young artist, acts as a reminder to motorists.

"Work at the Maesbury Road junction continues and we’d like to thank people for their patience while this takes place.”

Workers are improving the layout of the junction, which has seen a number of accidents in recent years, including some fatal crashes.

Highways England has said the traffic lights will smooth the flow of traffic, reduce queuing on either side of the A483 and improve safety for both pedestrians and motorists.

An additional lane is being added in both the north and southbound directions and street lighting will also be upgraded, with drainage work taking place to prevent flooding.

Following the completion of the project, work will take place on another stretch of the A483 at Mile End, where Highways England will widen the approach to the roundabout from Wrexham, renew road markings and review signage.