Fresh headache for drivers as three sets of roadworks bring further delays
Three major sets of roadworks are set to bring misery for motorists across the region.
The A41 south of Newport will be closed for a mile and a half from Monday for five days.
Meanwhile, overnight closures between Oswestry and Llanymynech along the A483 are causing major headaches for commuters and residents.
To add to the misery, the A458 near the Welshpool roundabout in Shrewsbury will be subject to major roadworks for two weeks starting on July 31.
Slow into Shrewsbury
Welshpool Road is popular with commuters coming in to the Frankwell and Copthorne areas of the town.
Works are already causing tailbacks on the road around the Severn Trent division headquarters at Shelton and the nearby Oxon Pub.
These have seen four-way traffic lights installed since the beginning of the month and are due to finish at the start of August.
Roadworks are also due to start on the B4380 between Shelton roundabout and the turning for the Copthorne roundabout on Monday.
The road will be closed between 9.30am and 4pm Monday to Saturday for surface dressing and the work is expected to finish on or around August 23.
Work will start on Kennedy Road on Thursday when Cadent, formerly National Grid Gas Distribution, begins to connect properties along with road with the gas network.
It is expected the work will be completed by August 2.
There will be give and take signals in operation.
No better near Newport
Works elsewhere are already causing major tailbacks across the country as the region's councils carry out repairs as the school holidays begin.
In Newport the A41 closure is to allow for resurfacing work to take place and Telford & Wrekin Council says it is no easier to do the work at night.
A one-and-a-half mile stretch of the major road will be shut south of Newport in both directions from Monday to Friday next week.
Traffic will be managed with a road closure from Pave Lane and Stockton Lane to the B4379 Sheriffhales junction.
A full diversion will operate and this will be in place around the clock.
Angie Astley, Telford & Wrekin Council's assistant director for neighbourhood and customer service, said: “Working at night through this section was initially considered.
"However a combination of safety issues and the potential impact on nearby residents caused by noise from the scheme mean that it will be quicker and safer to complete the work during an extended daytime closure."
“We have deliberately delayed these works until the summer holidays and we are committed to doing other works at the same time including gully cleansing, sign repairs and carriageway repairs.”
The road closure permit is in place for two weeks.
Anger on the A483
Meanwhile, after just a week of closures on the A483 near Oswestry, motorists and residents are calling for something to be done to halt delays.
The roadworks, due to last until the beginning of September, have already caused problems in their first week.
The road is supposed to be closed between 8pm and 6am each weekday night for resurfacing, however on Thursday the work over-ran by two hours, leading to long delays and making locals and commuters late for work, school and appointments.
Angry commuters on Thursday morning included Andy Ford, who works at BT in Oswestry and said: "I tried to get to Oswestry but the road was still closed at 7.50 and I had to go via Knockin."
Nathan Peters from Oswestry, travelling to Mid Wales said it took him an hour and 15 minutes to do a journey that would normally take 25 to 30 minutes and Dan Williams said he lost money because of the hold-ups.
Chairman of the parish council, Dilys Gaskill, said workers for the contractor, Kier, had been very helpful, with villagers being issued with permits which allow them to be escorted through the roadworks during the closures.
But she added: “If this road had been repaired sooner there would not have been the need for such major repairs. The parish council has been pressing for many years for work on the road. What we really need is a bypass.”
James Wildman, Highways England spokesman apologised for the delay in re-opening the road.
