Drivers deterred from rural lanes during A41 work

The Ercall Heath junction into Caynton, an area which residents say has seen more traffic

Measures have been put in place to deter drivers from using country lanes north of Newport to get around the latest closures on the A41 in Shropshire.

Residents told a recent meeting that traffic clogged the single-track lanes around Caynton during previous roadworks on the major Shropshire A-road.

Many vehicles following sat-nav systems had been directed through the area to bypass the advertised diversion routes, councillor Stephen Burrell said on his Facebook page.

A soft closure has now been implemented by Telford and Wrekin Council which means "to all sat-nav systems, the route will appear as being closed", he said.

There will also be more signs at the B5062 and Ercall Heath junctions "to discourage traffic from using this single-track road to bypass the official diversion routes".

Burrell, who represents Edgmond on the council, also said he has "successfully campaigned for more signage along Marsh Road" and encouraged residents to contact him directly with any concerns during the closure.

The council is currently carrying out the fourth and final phase of a major upgrade to the A41 which will take two weeks, excluding weekends, and be during the daytime from 07:00 to 16:00 BST.

There is an official diversion using the A53, the A442 and the A518.

The first week will be for the removal and replacement of 8,500 square metres of road surface.

"This closure will without doubt cause inconvenience for many but is necessary in order to finalise surface drainage works on the A41 through Chetwynd Firs," Burrell added.

"It is also the last planned major works on this stretch for a good 20 years."

Councillor Richard Overton, deputy council leader and cabinet member for highways, housing and enforcement, said the work was the "final stretch of a major investment into one of our borough's busiest routes".

"By scheduling the work during school holidays and limiting closures to weekdays, we're doing everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum," he added.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.