First phase of £12 million Shrewsbury town centre roads revamp complete
Major work to improve pavements, crossing points, road signs, street furniture and road surfaces in Shrewsbury town centre is nearing first phase of completion.
The next phase will see any remaining areas of paving completed along with the installation of benches and seats, planters, bins and cycle racks. Any road markings that are outstanding will also be completed.
It’s part of the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package (SITP) – a £12 million externally-funded programme of improvement work in and around Shrewsbury town centre. Work is being carried out by Shropshire Council’s contractor McPhillips Ltd.
And, thanks to the securing of additional external funding, the new paving and kerbing is now set to be extended along Barker Street to Claremont Bank.
Steve Brown, Shropshire Council’s head of transport and environment, said: “Completion of the current project is now imminent and our series of ‘before and after’ images show the wonderful transformation that has taken place as a result of this work.
"People visiting Shrewsbury town centre will see a real and notable improvement to many of the town’s streets.
“We’re also pleased to say that we have secured additional external funding which means that the new paving and kerbing can be extended along Barker Street and past the Tannery through to Claremont Bank.
"This provides a consistent palette of materials which links in to the main scheme and will enhance and improve the overall street scene in this area. This work will be carried out between May and August 2021.”
Work completed recently includes the removal of old black cobbles in Shoplatch, which were replaced with Yorkshire granite setts in February.
Footways were re-aligned through this location and a raised table formed to create an improved, level, designated crossing area for pedestrians.
In Claremont Street a road closure commenced for eight weeks from early February.
The remainder of the existing concrete kerbs and paving were removed and replaced with granite kerbs and Yorkstone paving.
The road layout has been re-aligned on the Mardol/Claremont Street bend to offer wider footways and crossing points.
The tarmac carriageway has been excavated and replaced with Yorkstone setts from The Art Shop on Mardol around to a new pedestrian crossing point by Majors on Claremont Street.
The area is now level from pavement to pavement – except through parking bays – to make the area more user friendly for pedestrians. The lower section of Claremont Street has been surfaced with new tarmac.
During the road closure, surfacing at Roushill/Mardol junction has also been completed. This consisted of a Hardipave tarmac and grouted macadam material which will assist longevity of the surface of the junction with vehicles turning.
The slabs around the centre of the Darwin's Gate sculpture were removed and replaced with green granite paving to highlight the area. Feature symbol slabs are also being laid in this location.
The old sandstone seats are to be removed and replaced with hardwood timber benches as installed in the earlier scheme on Pride Hill.
