Shrewsbury roadworks planned until November

Major roadworks are due to start in Shrewsbury town centre later.

Shropshire Council said the work on Smithfield Road was expected to last eight weeks and any closures would take place at night to reduce disruption.

The pavement opposite the Raven Meadows junction will be widened, along with new crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

The project, costing almost £100,000, will also see new traffic signals and a new access to the bus station.

The work, which also includes a reshaping of Smithfield Road at Raven Meadows, is expected to improve traffic flow through the town.

Andrew Bannerman, councillor for the Quarry and Coton Hill ward, said: "We want to see more people choose to walk and cycle along Smithfield Road in the future and these improvements are essential in order to achieve this."

The work is part of an ongoing traffic improvement project in the town, dating back to March 2010.

It has been funded by a £500,000 Connect2 grant from the National Lottery, managed by Sustrans, a sustainable transport charity.

Oliver Parry, who owns a pub on the road, said lane changes last September had seemed to improve traffic flow and cut down on the number of drivers racing along the road at night.

Shropshire Council said future plans, planned in 2012-13, would see improvements at the busy Chester Road and railway station gyratory.