Good progress made in work to improve Shrewsbury town centre

St John’s Hill junction looking down Bellstone and Barker Street with all loading bays in use

Good progress is being made in work to improve pavements, crossing points, road signs, street furniture and road surfaces in Shrewsbury town centre.

The work – part of the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package (SITP) – is being carried out between Smithfield Road and Bellstone, on Roushill, Mardol and Claremont Street.

Work began in early 2020 and is being carried out in phases. It’s set to be completed in early 2021 following a break for the Christmas work embargo period.

New natural stone kerb lines are being constructed to provide wider pavements and new pedestrian crossing points. The pavements are being repaved with high-quality natural stone materials. Updated street furniture, and traffic sign upgrades are also being planned.

Under the most recent phase of work, three out of the four unloading bays to the frontage of the Market Hall at Bellstone have been completed, and the fourth – which will be completed from 4 January – is available for use by the market stall holders.

Work on the pavements along the frontage of the Market Hall is now complete between Shoplatch and Claremont Street and between St Johns Hill and Claremont Hill ,and the pavements are now wider and more user-friendly for pedestrians.

The pavement on the left-hand-side of Claremont Street down to Subway is complete and a short section between Subway and Nationwide Building Society will be completed early in the new year.

Barker Street towards Rowley’s House; and outside The Loopy Shrew, Bellstone

In the week commencing 11 January 2021, Claremont Hill will be closed for the preparation of the kerbline and pavement, before Yorkstone setts and slabs are installed on Claremont Hill and Barker Street.

Additionally, during the New Year, there will also be the introduction of street furniture including benches, planters, bins and an increased number of cycle racks.

Between January 2021 and March 2021 there will be a series of road closures for the  installation of new carriageway setts to both Mardol Head and Mardol into Claremont Street.

During the closures the road will be resurfaced in Claremont Street, along Mardol Head and Shoplatch to Bellstone.

Granite paving will also be installed around the Darwin’s Gate feature.

Surfacing works will also take place at end of March/early April to resurface the junction of St John’s Hill/Bellstone/Shoplatch along Bellstone and into Barker Street.

This surfacing will create a long raised ‘table’ which will benefit pedestrians crossing, as the kerb face will be easy to negotiate and allow a more user-friendly area.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:

“Alongside the upgrading of Pride Hill, the enhancement of Town Walls to Claremont Bank, and the facelift of the kerbs and paving on High Street, this work is key to improving the public and urban realm for Shrewsbury. We thank people for their understanding while all of this important work is carried out – they will see a further significant and notable improvement to the town centre once this work is complete.”

Work is being carried out by McPhillips, Shropshire Council’s contractor. During the works they will be available to address any day-to-day issues that may arise, liaising with businesses regarding loading bay requirements, and accessibility to business and residential premises.

For more information about the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package, go to www.shropshire.gov.uk/sitp.

Questions can also be emailed to SITP@shropshire.gov.uk

Further information – social distancing measures

From 2 December 2020 High Street will be closed to motorised traffic between its junctions with Wyle Cop and Milk Street daily between 11am and 4pm. During the closure times, pedestrians will be able to use the entire highway space on this section of High Street. Traffic will be rerouted via Town Walls, Murivance, St Chad’s Terrace, Claremont Bank and Lower Claremont Bank.

During these hours, Wyle Cop will be closed uphill, but remain open downhill.