Date set for improvements to Shrewsbury’s northern gateway

Shropshire Council will start work later this month (Monday 17 September 2012) to enhance the environment of Shrewsbury’s northern gateway, making it a more welcoming approach and improving access to the town centre. 

The improvements are centred on Chester Street, Cross Street and Castle Foregate in front of the rail station.  To ease traffic during the busy Christmas period, the work is programmed in two phases: 

• Phase 1: 17 September to 30 November 2012 (11 weeks)
• Phase 2: 7 January to 22 March 2013 (10 weeks). 

The proposals for the Northern Gateway Enhancement Scheme were discussed with a wide range of organisations earlier this year.  Following comments received during the consultation, some amendments were made and these were approved by Shropshire Council’s Planning Committee in May.  

The £1.6 million project now incorporates the following elements: 

• Planting of trees and use of high-quality paving materials, with widened pavements
• Lighting of the railway bridges to improve personal safety and appearance
• New and upgraded pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on Chester Street, St Michael’s Street and Castle Foregate – seven new crossing points
• Wider, shared-use pavements on Chester Street and Castle Foregate
• New bus lay-by opposite the station providing a ‘shortcut’ (avoiding the gyratory system) for several bus services
• Installation of traffic signals with new technology to optimise traffic flows
• Detection equipment and early warning signs for high vehicles approaching the town centre on Ellesmere Road – preventing bridge strikes. 

Detailed plans will shortly be available on shropshire.gov.uk or at the Gateway Centre on Chester Street. 

After a competitive tender process, the council awarded the construction work to Fitzgerald’s.  The Midlands-based company has recently been involved in other high-profile town centre projects in Wrexham and West Bromwich.  The council is using their term consultants, Mouchel, to design and supervise the scheme. 

Staff at Shropshire Council, Mouchel and Fitzgerald’s will be working hard to minimise disruption to road users for the duration of the works.  The council is also in close discussion with Network Rail, and their contractors Birse, to co-ordinate the Northern Gateway works with bridge maintenance. 

Shropshire Council has been successful in applying for external funding from a variety of sources.  The majority of funding for the Northern Gateway Enhancement Scheme will be from three sources: 

• Shrewsbury Growth Point, for revitalising and regenerating specific areas of the town.
• Local Sustainable Transport Fund, aimed at reducing congestion and cutting carbon emissions.
• Sustrans Connect2, providing better connections for walking and cycling. 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for transport, said:

“We are pleased that, through securing external grant funding, we are able to make a significant improvement to one of Shrewsbury’s busiest junctions.  This is a major approach to the town and it will be a far more pleasant and safer environment, with better lighting and paving throughout, wider pavements and more safe crossings for pedestrians.  Traffic flow should be better managed with more up to date traffic signals.” 

Mal Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for strategic planning, said:

“We have been working through Shrewsbury Growth Point to create a better and more welcoming environment in Shrewsbury to help bring in more investment and encourage quality development, particularly on the northern corridor of Shrewsbury; it is also a major step forward with work to enhance the visitor experience and the visitor economy of Shrewsbury town centre.  This is the first of a number of physical environmental improvements to the gateways to the town, and in these challenging times I am really pleased we have been able to bring this important work forward.  I am delighted this scheme enables us to achieve that at one of the key gateways into town.” 

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

“I am delighted that this scheme offers greater priority to pedestrians and cyclists in Shrewsbury; this is an important and busy route to town, with many people passing through from the rail and bus stations, as well as walking from residential areas from the north of town.  I hope that we continue to work through the town to reduce the impact of cars through the town centre.” 

Further information 

Phase 1 will focus on Chester Street with priority to construction of the new bus lay-by and re-routing of bus services.  Phase 2 will concentrate on the Castle Foregate corridor.