A49 in Shropshire to shut overnight for a month
One of the busiest roads in Shropshire will be closed overnight for a month while roadworks are carried out.
The A49 will be closed between Bayston Hill, on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, and Craven Arms in south Shropshire from the end of the month.
A diversion, taking motorists towards Kidderminster and Much Wenlock will operate between 8pm and 6am.
Access to properties along the 18-mile route will be maintained at all times.
Residents living along the busy road have taken to social media expressing their frustrations
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Many of them are questioning why the work needs to be carried out just weeks after other work has been completed.
In a notice posted by Highways England on Monday, the A49 between its roundabout junction with the B4368 Clun Road and Long Lane in Craven Arms and the southbound carriageway of the A49 from its junction with Sharpstone Lane to the roundabout junction of the A5 and A5112 at Bayston Hill will be closed.
The work is expected to start on June 3 and continue for one month. The road will be closed from 8pm to 6am.
The order will come in to force on May 31.
Access
The laybys along the road will also be closed 24 hours a day for the duration of the work.
Police, fire and ambulance vehicles as well as those from the rescue authority will be exempt from the closures and access to all properties will be maintained at all times.
The road is to be closed to allow resurfacing work to be carried out.
Diversions along the B4371, the A5, the A458, the A442 and the A456 or along the A489, the A488, the B4385, the B4368 and vice versa will be signed.
Councillor Lee Chapman who represents Church Stretton on Shropshire Council said that while he recognised the disruption the closure would bring to residents and business the resurfacing programme was necessary work.
"This is going to be of a real concern for people travelling across the county.
"But the roads need to be maintained. The problems are caused by the heavy lorries and that means the road surface does not last for too long. At least it is not closing for 24 hours a day but even with the overnight closure, it will cause disruption. It is a problem that we only have one route through the south of the county."
Highways England was approached for comment.
