Onibury A49 level crossing works on track
Work to rebuild a level crossing that has closed Shropshire's A49 is on schedule to be completed by Monday morning, rail bosses have confirmed.
But a councillor has said confusion continues over diversion routes around Onibury in south Shropshire, where the A49 between is currently closed for 10 days of what have been described as urgent "safety-crucial" works at the level crossing there.
Contractors for Network Rail moved on to the site in the early hours of July 1 and the rail line, part of the route between South Wales and Shrewsbury, was also closed over the weekend, and is set to close again this coming weekend.
Now Network Rail has confirmed the works are on track to complete early on Monday.
Nichole Sarra, speaking for Network Rail, said: "Our orange army made good progress over the first weekend of the temporary closure of the crossing. We removed the existing level crossing, road surface and excavated the foundations.
"We also replaced the track sleepers and ballast and carried out ‘tamping’ a process which involves compressing the ballast and track utilising an on track machine.
"During the second weekend we will carry out further tamping to the track, install the level crossing panels, tarmac the road approaches on both sides of the crossing and paint the road markings.
"Onibury level crossing is on schedule to reopen to vehicles by 6am on July 10," she said.
Meanwhile Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North said traffic is flowing well but he is still hearing stories of confusion for drivers five days into the works.
The official diversion route for motorists travelling between Shrewsbury and Hereford takes drivers 60 miles out of their way via Bridgnorth and Kidderminster, though many local drivers are using B roads via Culmington, between Craven Arms and Ludlow.
Councillor Boddington said: "Traffic is flowing well around the local diversions though why a weight restriction is not in place on the B4365, I do not know.
"There are far too many HGVs going through Culmington, which should have been designated a light traffic route.
"There is obvious confusion about which diversion route to take in both Craven Arms and Ludlow. This morning a truck stopped on the Sheet Road roundabout (in Ludlow) to ask for directions. The driver spoke to three or four drivers, all the time blocking traffic," he added.
