Shropshire Council

Safer Roads Fund - A529 improvement works

This information is correct at the time of publishing but could be subject to change either due to circumstances beyond our control, or should other works come in that make it more efficient and less disruptive to reschedule

Closure details

  • Starts: 4 May 2020
  • Ends: 15 June 2020
  • Running: Daytime
  • North Shropshire

Work to improve safety on the A529 between Market Drayton and Adderley is to begin on Monday 4 May 2020 and last for six weeks.

It is the second major stage of work to improve safety on the A529 following the award of £3.9m from the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund in 2018 to improve safety on the A529 between Hinstock and Audlem. It incorporates ongoing maintenance work.

This next stage of work follows work to improve the Mount Pleasant crossroads, which was completed last October.

The scheme will include resurfacing the carriageway, including kerbing and all associated drainage, ironworks and road markings. Additional signing will be provided and existing signs will be renewed. A permanent 50mph speed limit is also being proposed along the route, and is currently being consulted on.

A full road closure will be in place between 7am and 5pm for the duration of the works, and a fully signed diversion route will operate during this time. The works will be carried out on weekdays only and won’t take place on public holidays.

The works will be carried out by Kier, and be supervised by WSP on behalf of Shropshire Council.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said:

“The award of this money from the DfT is enabling us to carry out essential and much-needed safety work on this dangerous stretch of road. I’m delighted that this next stage of work is now set to begin. We’ll make every effort to keep disruption to a minimum, and thank people for their understanding and patience while this important work is carried out.

“I’d like to assure people that Government coronavirus guidelines will be followed by our contractors, and additional measures will be put in place to ensure the health and safety of all site personnel and the public.”

The work is weather dependent, and the dates and times may be subject to change.

During the works access will be maintained to residents and businesses only, but may be restricted at times until the site can be made safe to allow access. Traffic management operatives will be on site to assist if necessary.

Further information

The scheme is located in the northeast of the county on the A529 between Spoonley (north of Market Drayton) and the junction to Shavington (just south of Adderley).  The A529 is set in a rural location with an average width of 5.7 metres, with narrow verges on both sides and is bordered by farmland with some residential properties. The existing speed limit is 60mph throughout the scheme extents.

These works are deemed essential by the government to ensure that “the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes continue operating during the COVID-19 response”.