19/12/2012 - Permalink

First phase of Shrewsbury Northern Gateway work completed

Related topics: Community

Photo of Chester Street after completion of northern gateway first phase work

Phase one of a £1.5m scheme to enhance Shrewsbury’s ‘northern gateway’ and improve access to the town centre has been completed on schedule – with phase two work set to start on 7 January 2013.

Phase one of the work focussed on the Chester Street area and was carried out between 17 September and 30 November 2012.

Work carried out included:

  • Resurfacing of Chester Street and Cross Street.
  • Construction of a new bus lay-by on Smithfield Road opposite the railway station.
  • Planting of trees and use of high-quality paving materials on Chester Street, with widened pavements.
  • New high-quality paving on Cross Street.
  • Lighting of the railway bridges to improve personal safety and appearance.
  • New and upgraded pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on Chester Street.
  • Wider, shared-use pavements on Chester Street.
  • Detection equipment and early warning signs for high vehicles approaching the town centre on Ellesmere Road – preventing bridge strikes.

Traffic signals will be installed at the new crossing outside The Gateway as part of the phase two work.

The phase two work – which will take around 11 weeks to complete – will concentrate on the Castle Foregate corridor, and will include:

  • Resurfacing of Castle Foregate.
  • Use of high-quality paving materials, with widened pavements, on St Michael’s Street and Castle Foregate.
  • Lighting of the railway bridge by the station to improve personal safety and appearance.
  • New and upgraded pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on St Michael’s Street and Castle Foregate.
  • Wider, shared-use pavements on Castle Foregate.
  • Installation of traffic signals at three junctions with new technology to optimise traffic flows.

The council used their term consultants, Mouchel, to design and supervise the scheme. Construction work is being carried out by Fitzgerald Contractors Ltd.

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for transport, said:

“Phase one of this important project has already made a huge difference to the appearance of the Chester Street area.  This has been a challenging site to work on so close to the town centre, but the council and our contractors have worked hard to minimise any disruption and maintain access to town for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.  Good quality materials and workmanship are clear to see, which can only help to raise the profile of the area.”

Andrew Bannerman, local Shropshire Councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, said;

“The contractors have done well to complete phase one on time, despite difficult conditions, and we are all looking forward to the completion of phase two.  This end of town is undergoing a renaissance in several ways, which is all good for the image and attraction of Shrewsbury.”

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).