NEWSROOM

Many motorists who regularly use the route will have noticed warning signs in place in recent weeks asking drivers to slow down while the Council carried out inspections and investigations. Those assessments have now been completed and confirmed that sections of the barrier system require urgent repairs to ensure it continues to provide the level of protection expected on one of the Borough's busiest roads.

The work is being brought forward as a priority to address damage and deterioration within parts of the central reservation barrier, helping to keep road users safe and reduce the risk of more significant issues developing in the future.

To allow the works to be carried out safely, the second lane will be closed in both directions adjacent to the central reservation. Temporary closures of slip roads at Greyhound Interchange will also be required during parts of the scheme to facilitate the traffic management arrangements and ensure the safety of both motorists and construction crews.

Councillor Nathan England, Cabinet Member for Safer Streets and Better Housing, said: "The safety of everyone using our roads must always come first. These repairs are essential to ensure the central reservation barrier can continue to perform its vital role in protecting motorists in the event of a collision.

"We appreciate that lane closures on a major route such as the A442 will inevitably cause some inconvenience and we apologise for that. However, we have carefully considered the available options and chosen the approach that allows the work to be completed as quickly and safely as possible.

"As a Council, we continue to invest in maintaining and improving our highways network. Carrying out these repairs now addresses the issue at the earliest opportunity and helps avoid the need for longer-term restrictions or more extensive disruption in the future.

"We would like to thank motorists for their patience and understanding while these essential safety works are completed."

The works will take place day and night to shorten the lane closure but are expected to take around five to six days to complete and people are advised to allow additional time for journeys during the works period and follow all signed traffic management measures.

Telford & Wrekin Council recognises that the restrictions will cause inconvenience for some road users. The works have been carefully planned to minimise disruption while maintaining safety throughout the programme, forming part of the £91 million investment into Borough wide highways and transport infrastructure over four years.

Guided by its Highways Asset Management Policy and Strategy, the Council uses a risk-based, evidence-led approach to ensure investment is targeted where it will deliver the greatest benefit, helping to keep the network safe, resilient and reliable while making the best use of public funding. This long-term approach has helped Telford & Wrekin Council consistently achieve some of the highest resident satisfaction ratings for highways and transport services both regionally and nationally.