Four-way traffic lights at Reabrook roundabout to be removed two days early

Four-way traffic lights at Reabrook roundabout in Shrewsbury are to be removed two days ahead of schedule following monitoring of traffic using the island, and concerns raised by road users.

Work to improve and resurface the roundabout began on Monday 8 May 2017. The work includes carriageway widening to improve traffic flows, cycleway and footway crossing improvements, improved street lighting, drainage, and resurfacing.

It’s being carried out as part of the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package (SITP) which will see £12m of inward investment in Shrewsbury’s roads and town centre over the next four years.

Four-way traffic lights have been in place at the roundabout since Monday 8 May, and will now be removed two days earlier than planned, on Wednesday 17 May.

From Wednesday 17 May Haycock Way will be closed entirely and Old Potts Way will be closed from Scott Street to the roundabout, with signed diversions in place (see map below), and two-way traffic lights on Pritchard Way and Bage Way for the duration of the works.

Map showing the Reabrook roundabout diversion route from the Wednesday 17 May

The work at Reabrook roundabout is due to be completed by early summer.

Matt Johnson, strategic highways and contracts manager with Shropshire Council, said:

“We thank people for their understanding and continued patience during the delivery of important improvements to some of Shrewsbury’s key junctions.
“We’re continually monitoring the works at Reabrook and are aware of delays at the roundabout since Monday, and of concerns and complaints raised by drivers using the roundabout and surrounding roads.
“We’ll continue to review the current traffic management arrangements at this site, and if there are further opportunities to revise these to alleviate some of the traffic delays in the area we’ll make such changes as soon as possible.
“The SITP will make it easier to travel in and around Shrewsbury as a motorist, cyclist, pedestrian or public transport user, build infrastructure fit for the planned growth of the town, and deliver a real step change to the town centre, by removing unnecessary through traffic from the town, and addressing traffic flows for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.”

Any further changes to the planned works’ end date, or to the traffic management arrangements in advance of this date, will be communicated as soon as possible to motorists through roadside signage, the Shropshire Council website, and via social media and the news media.

Meanwhile, work at Meole Brace roundabout will continue until later this spring. There will be a full night time closure (8pm to 6am) of the island from 8 May for two weeks for resurfacing work, and lane closures will remain in place until work is completed.

Work on these roundabouts is part of the ‘key junctions’ element of the SITP. After Reabrook, work will be carried out at Coleham Head and the gyratory system, with the overall SITP junctions programme due to be completed by the end of this year.

For more information about the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package, click here.

Further information

What is the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package?

The Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package (SITP) aims to stop drivers using the town centre as a through route, and to make better use of the town’s outer and inner ring roads instead.

At the same time, a number of improvements are planned for the town centre to make it more attractive and appealing for pedestrians, and make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to access the town centre and find their way around.

The SITP has been designed to improve access to the town, make it a safer and more appealing place to visit or do business, whilst also reducing pollution levels.

Drawn up by experts from Shropshire Council and its contractor Mouchel, with the support of Shrewsbury BID and Shrewsbury Vision, the plans have been approved by the Department for Transport. The plans aim to ensure the infrastructure of our county is fit for purpose and will remain fit for purpose for the foreseeable future and beyond.

What work is taking place?

The SITP work falls into two main categories:

(1) Key junction improvements

Work is scheduled to take place at the following locations, on the dates stated:

• Meole Brace roundabout – from 10 February to 30 May 2017
• Sutton Park roundabout – from 10 April to 7 May 2017
• Reabrook roundabout – from 8 May to 2 July 2017
• English Bridge Gyratory – from 3 July to 24 September 2017
• Coleham Head – from 25 September to 20 October 2017

The programme is subject to change due to acceleration of works or unforeseen events. Please continue to look at the Shropshire Council website for up-to-date details.

The programme as a whole has been agreed to take into account the major events taking place in Shrewsbury during the spring and summer.

(2) Town centre improvements – beginning in January 2018

Who is paying for the work?

The project will be delivered thanks to Government funding secured by The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as part of an £80m Growth Deal to support infrastructure and broadband schemes in the region.

The work will cost £12m – with £6m coming from the Marches LEP, and £6m from developer contributions under the community infrastructure levy (CIL) and section 106 payments.