Shropshire Star

Bypass to close for three nights during roadworks

A major road on the Shropshire/Welsh border will be closed overnight for three nights this week.

Published

The Chirk bypass, which carries both the A5 and A483, near Oswestry, will be shut between 8pm and 6pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for repairs on the bridge over the Ceiriog Valley.

Wrexham Council, contractor for the works, said structural repairs will be made to the parapet guardrail on the bridge and the re-instatement of road markings.

The road will be closed between the Gledrid and the Halton roundabouts for the works, which should be completed by Saturday.

Traffic will be diverted through Chirk and a spokesman for the council said that there could be higher noise levels in the town overnight.

"All abnormal loads over three metres will be prohibited from travelling along the diversion route. However, provisions will be in place for them to park up overnight at the laybys before the road closures.

Speed limit

"Full consideration has been given to the impact of the work on road users, residents and the work force."

The section of the bypass across the bridge as recently made the subject of a 50mph speed limit and no overtaking.

Red marking was painted in the centre of the road to discourage drivers overtaking.

The changes follow numerous crashes and near misses on the road and fears that vehicles could plunge over the bridge parapet onto the valley floor.

Two drivers died in a crash on the bridge in 2010 involving a livestock trailer. Several cows fell to their deaths as the escaped the wagon, only to plunge over the bridge.