Enhancement scheme for Shrewsbury town centre to start in June

A project to improve the busy junction of St Julian’s Friars and Wyle Cop in Shrewsbury by resurfacing roads and installing a zebra crossing is due to start on Monday 2 June 2014.

The work will include the repaving of footways, minor highway drainage, kerb realignment and the installation of a zebra crossing on Beeches Lane, as a replacement for the existing Pelican crossing.

Two speed humps will also be installed – one in Beeches Lane and one at the bottom of Wyle Cop.

The enhancement scheme is designed to lower vehicle speeds and improve the junction for pedestrians, as well as making it easier for vehicles to access businesses for loading.

Extensive public consultation has already taken place about the enhancement scheme, and letters were sent to residents and businesses earlier in May about the work.

Beeches Lane, St Julian’s Friars and Wyle Cop will each need to be closed for a time to allow the work to be carried out.

Only one road will be closed at a time, starting with Beeches Lane which will close to traffic at 9am on Monday 2 June 2014 for up to three weeks.

Wyle Cop is then expected to be closed from 23 June to 8 July, and St Julian’s Friars is due to be closed on 9 and 10 July.

For details of diversion routes, see the further notes at the end of this news article.  All dates and timescales are approximate and closures will be shortened as much as possible as work progresses.

Signed diversion routes will be in place during the closures, and pedestrians will still have access, as will vehicles needing to access businesses for loading.

Claire Wild, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:

“This project will greatly improve an important gateway to Shrewsbury town centre.

“Pedestrian access has always been difficult, particularly crossing Beeches Lane from St Julian’s Friars car park, and this work will make it much safer for pedestrians.

“We apologise for any disruption caused by the road closures, but they are unavoidable due to the nature of the work.

“Shrewsbury town centre will still be very much open and accessible, with pedestrian access being maintained at all times.

“Residents and businesses can be assured that we will do everything we can to get the work completed as quickly as possible.”

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

“This is an ideal opportunity for those who just want to get to the other side of the town centre to use an alternative route.  For instance, to get from the Column to Frankwell,  it is generally just as quick, and much more environmentally friendly, to use the Meole Island, Roman Road, Porthill route, than to go through the town centre.”

Further notes: Road closures and diversion details

Beeches Lane (from Wyle Cop to Williams Way): 2 June (9am) to 20 June

Diversion route: St Julian’s Crescent / Williams Way

Details: Traffic flows on St Julian’s Crescent and Williams Way will be reversed. Traffic will enter at English Bridge and leave at Town Walls.  Alternative routes out of town are Kingsland Bridge or Welsh Bridge.

Wyle Cop (in both directions from Dogpole to Beeches Lane): 23 June to 8 July

Diversion route for traffic coming from Castle Street: High Street / Welsh Bridge / Copthorne Road / Roman Road / Hazeldine Way / English Bridge.

Diversion route for traffic coming from English Bridge: Beeches Lane / Town Walls / Smithfield Road / Castle Street / Dogpole.

Details: Access for deliveries etc to Wyle Cop businesses will be maintained. Vehicles requiring access to the closed section will either need to reverse into the area, or turn around.

St Julian’s Friars (section from St Julian’s Crescent to Beeches Lane): 9 July to 10 July

Diversion route: St Julian’s Crescent / Williams Way

Details: Pedestrians and cyclists are advised to use St Julian’s Crescent or Williams Way.  Access for deliveries etc will be maintained, but delays should be expected.