Drainage replacement scheme on A458 near Shrewsbury

A major scheme to improve drainage and reduce flooding problems on the A458 near Shrewsbury is due to get started on Monday 16 September 2013. 

The A458 at Venus Bank, between Cross Houses and Cound on the Much Wenlock to Shrewsbury road, has suffered with flooding issues for some years, so Shropshire Council is installing a much improved drainage system designed to resolve the flooding problem. 

Work will start on 16 September and will require the road to be closed for up to six weeks (24 hours a day), although if good progress is made, the road could reopen sooner. 

The diversion route will be on the B4380 between Cressage and Shrewsbury, but because of possible difficulties for HGVs at the bridge near Cressage on this route, they are to be diverted between Much Wenlock and Shrewsbury via the A4169 and B4380. 

It’s important to remind everyone that while this closure is on, the businesses between Shrewsbury and Much Wenlock are open as usual: these include The Plume of Feathers pub, The Eagles pub, Riverside Inn, Oakley’s, Severndale Nurseries, The Bell pub, and Pace petrol and Mace shop at Cross Houses. 

Claire Wild, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, and local Shropshire Councillor for Severn Valley, said:

“I’m sure most local people would agree that this work is important, and the long-term benefits will far outweigh the short-term inconvenience.  We do appreciate that businesses may be worried about how the road closure will affect them, and we are doing all we can to inform people that every business remains open as normal. 

“There are no businesses in the specific section that is being closed so they will all remain accessible, and signs will be placed at either end of the diversion route specifically telling drivers that businesses are open.”