Shrewsbury town centre enhancement work nears completion

New pedestrian crossing in Shoplatch with setts laid prior to grouting.

Work to improve pavements, crossing points, road signs, street furniture and road surfaces in Shrewsbury town centre is set to be completed next month (April 2021).

The work is being carried out between Smithfield Road and Bellstone, on Roushill, Mardol and Claremont Street. It began in early 2020 and is being carried out in phases.

It’s part of the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package (SITP) – a £12million externally-funded programme of improvement work in and around Shrewsbury town centre.

This phase of work recommenced in early January 2021 after the Christmas and New Year break.

Work completed in recent weeks includes:

Barker Street/Bellstone /Claremont Hill

• Installation of granite kerbs and Yorkstone setts to the bottom of Claremont Hill, under a localised road closure.
• Granite tactile paving has been installed along the frontage of Hong Kong City, Pooks and Halls estate agents, along with a Belisha beacon, in readiness for forming a pedestrian crossing when road surfacing is complete around the end of March.

Shoplatch

• Work has been undertaken within a three-week road closure on Shoplatch adjacent to Darwin’s Gate.
• Work in this section included the removal of the old black cobbles in the carriageway, which were replaced with Yorkstone granite setts.
• Pavements have also been realigned through this location, and a raised table formed to create an improved crossing area for pedestrians.
• There will also be the introduction of new street furniture, which will include benches, planters, bins, protective bollards and an increased number of cycle racks.

As part of the work there is also a phased closure of roads for resurfacing, as below:

• Until 28 March – Claremont Street and Upper Mardol
• 18 / 19 March – Roushill/Mardol junction
• 23 to 26 March – Claremont Street
• 29 March to 1 April – Bellstone towards Barker Street
• No works over Easter
• 6 April to 9 April – Shoplatch and Mardol Head
• 12 April to 14 April – Barker Street.

All closures will be 24-hour, and a signed diversion will be in place. Further details will be provided to businesses on how deliveries may be accommodated during the closures.

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

“This work is key to improving the public and urban realm for Shrewsbury, and we thank people for their understanding while all of this important work is carried out.

“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, and there will be updated street furniture and traffic sign upgrades.

“A particular focus since work restarted in January has been to complete most of the paving to shop frontages, so that access is much improved once there is a relaxation of the current Lockdown restrictions.

“With coronavirus in mind we ask people to please only approach our site personnel if there is an absolute need to do so, and then maintain social distancing. And we also ask people to respect our workers’ space and safety by driving carefully and slowly through the roadworks.”

Work is set to be completed slightly behind schedule primarily due to the extended scope of works at the Mardol/Claremont Street junction, the restrictions due to the pandemic, and more recently, poor weather conditions, all of which have impacted on the original programme.

For more information go to www.shropshire.gov.uk/sitp.