Footbridge to be lifted into place over A5

The £5m bridge will carry pedestrian and cyclist traffic to Oswestry's new Innovation Park

A £5m footbridge linking Oswestry to its new Innovation Park is due to be lifted into place over the main A5 later.

The overnight work will see the closure of the trunk road.

It will be shut between the Whittington Road and Mile End junctions from 20:00 GMT until 06:00 on Tuesday.

Shropshire Council says the link will be fully open in the spring, once the ramps and landscaping works have been completed.

Planning approval for the Innovation Park was given on condition the bridge was completed before the estate was built.

The council is now planning for work including new roads and drainage to get the park ready for businesses to move in.

The main bridge structure has been stored alongside the road for several weeks

The design of the bridge was criticised by Oswestry town council, which said it would not be fully accessible to people with disabilities and that cyclists would have to dismount several times.

But Shropshire Council says it will connect a number of rights of way, allowing easier access to countryside walks as well as linking back to Shrewsbury Road.

The authority expects the £45m park will eventually create 1,300 jobs.

Mark Jones, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for growth and regeneration, said: "Designs for the spine roads, connectivity and utilities are completed, and has enabled us to prepare an infrastructure procurement package for the whole site.

“We hope to award this contract and commence work on site from spring next year, with employment land plots becoming available from early 2025," he added.