Highways Agency plans to develop Mile End roundabout to go on display

Highways Agency plans to improve traffic flow and create an entrance to a new business park at Mile End roundabout in Oswestry are due to go on display shortly.

Shropshire Council is holding an exhibition at Oswestry Memorial Hall on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 June 2014 so people can see the plans in detail, and work is expected to start on 1 July 2014.

The exhibition will run from 9am to 8pm each day.

The scheme forms part of the Highways Agency’s ‘pinch point’ scheme, which is intended to deliver smaller scale improvements to the strategic road network.

In this case, the Mile End roundabout will be increased in size and a sixth arm added, which is intended to open up access to a proposed business park.

Construction of the first phase of the business park development, comprising of roads and infrastructure works, is scheduled to start over the coming two years, subject to funding.

Work on Mile End roundabout is due to start on 1 July 2014 and will be completed this winter.

The scheme was designed by Amey, and construction will be carried out by EM Highways (formerly Enterprise Mouchel).  The cost of the work – around £4 million – is being funded by the Highways Agency.

To minimise disruption, the majority of work will be carried out during the night, from 6.30pm to 7am, with the possibility of some daytime working during off-peak periods only.

All traffic management will be removed from the highway network completely over the August Bank Holiday.

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

“I would urge anyone interested to come along to the public exhibition on 12 and 13 June to see the plans for themselves.

“There will be representatives from Shropshire Council, Amey and EM Highways on hand to answer any queries, so it will be a very useful event.

“Council highways officers have been working closely with the contractors and the Highways Agency to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.”

Keith Barrow, Shropshire Council Leader, said:

“This work will help us move forward with our plans to bring thousands of new jobs into the Oswestry area, because creating a new arm on Mile End roundabout will bring the business park a step closer to reality.

“Although we expect some traffic disruption while work takes place, I hope people will be able to appreciate the long-term benefits that this scheme will bring to the area.”

Joyce Barrow, local Shropshire Councillor St Oswald, added:

“I am hoping for as little disruption as possible, and hope that any impact on tourism and businesses will be minimal.

“Oswestry will still be very accessible and open for business even while the roadworks take place.”

For more details about the project, visit the Highways Agency website here.