Artist's impression of the Smithfield Road, Chester Street and Castle Gates junction, after planned enhancement work

Shropshire Council is proposing a number of changes to the area around Shrewsbury Station and the Chester Street gyratory with the purpose of:

1. Creating a more welcoming environment as people arrive at Shrewsbury’s ‘Northern Gateway’
2. Making it safer for people to cross the road; to the town centre; to Shrewsbury Mail Centre; and to the Gateway Centre
3. Providing more space for walking and cycling and encouraging more people to walk and cycle into the town centre
4. Reducing delays to local and long distance bus services
5. Cutting congestion (particularly on Coton Hill) by managing traffic flows

Key proposals

Plans are attached here:

• key proposals plan 
• overview plan

Artists impressions are attached here:

• Coton Hill
• Smithfield Road

There are 9 key proposals:

Key proposal 1: Junction of Castle Foregate, Cross Street and Howard Street
The traffic signals junction will be refurbished and include new pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on Cross Street, Castle Foregate and Howard Street.  Pavements will also be widened slightly on the approach from Ditherington allowing transition from carriageway to the shared use facilities.

Key proposal 2: Castle Foregate
Proposed widening of both footways on Castle Foregate, providing shared space for pedestrians and cyclists.  The bus/ taxi/ cycle lane is removed to retain two traffic lanes.  Both pavements will be approximately 3m wide.

Key proposal 3: Castle Foregate (in  front of Shrewsbury Railway Station)
A single bus stop is provided on Castle Foregate with the shelter removed from the front of the Railway Station.  The bus/ taxi/ cycle lane is also removed.  A new cycle lane will lead cyclists from the shared facility to the advanced stopline at the signal junction to access the town centre.  The ‘Shrewsbury Station’ sign will also be relocated to improve its visibility and provide better access to the railway station for pedestrians and cycles.

Key proposal 4: Junction of Castle Foregate, Castle Gates and Smithfield Road
The traffic signals will be refurbished and include new pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on Castle Foregate and Smithfield Road, whilst upgrading the existing crossing on Castle Gates.

Key proposal 5: Junction of Smithfield Rd and Chester St
New bus stop provided on approach to traffic signals.  This will be for the Meole Brace and Oxon Park and Ride services avoiding the need to go around the gyratory.  The loading area is to be retained and space will be made available for landscape improvements.  The existing advisory crossing of Smithfield Road will be retained but with new refuges.  The bollards will be removed from the Smithfield Road/ Chester Street bend allowing landscape improvements.

Key proposal 6: Chester Street (west)
Widened pavement along the river side of Chester Street to allow shared space for pedestrians and cyclists.  The bus stop is relocated and parking is retained with no alteration to existing times or charges.  Changes to the traffic lanes allow merging between traffic from Smithfield Road and Castle Foregate/ Station exit.

Key proposal 7: Chester Street (east)
Widened footway along the railway side of Chester Street to allow shared space for pedestrians and cyclists.  Parking bays are to be removed.

Key proposal 8: Junction of Chester Street, Coton Hill and Cross Street
A new traffic signals junction with pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on each arm.  The existing refuges will be replaced with a single refuge, Coton Hill will be reduced to a single lane with an advanced stop line for cycles and the bus stop on Coton Hill will also be relocated further away from the proposed stopline.

Key proposal 9: general
New streetlighting will be provided around the whole of the gyratory, including under the railway bridges.  Further decorative lighting of the approaches to the bridges is also proposed.

Consultation

Download the consultation display.

Detailed plans can be discussed with Shropshire Council staff at a public exhibition at the Gateway Centre on Wednesday 21 March 2012 (10am to 6pm) and Thursday 22 March 2012 (10am to 9.30pm).

Consultation plans will also be available to view until 23 April 2012 at:

• Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND
• Shrewsbury Library, Castle Gates, SY1 2AS
• The Guildhall, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury SY3 8HQ

Download the feedback form.

Download the exhibition poster.

General information

Shropshire Council has been successful in securing grant funding towards the Northern Gateway Enhancement Scheme from:

• Growth Point (Department of Communities and Local Government)
• Local Sustainable Transport Fund (Department for Transport)
• Connect2 (Big Lottery)