A proposed design for improvements to Mile End Roundabout in Oswestry has been revealed, ahead of a planning application being prepared later this year.
The work is to be carried out following the award of £9.3m from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) to improve the capacity of the road network on the A5 at Mile End and improve the viability of planned housing developments.
The funding award follows a funding bid by Shropshire Council in 2018.
Work undertaken so far on the remodelling of the strategic road network at Mile End as part of the HIF proposal has resulted in an innovative design which would open up land opportunities, and minimise disruption on the road network while the improvements are carried out.
The proposed design is pedestrian and cyclist-friendly, and allows for all the cycling and walking movements being made in and around the area at present. If there is demand in future for extra pedestrian and cycle access – eg. once the Innovation Park is developed – additional infrastructure would be provided.
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economic growth, said:
“The development of housing and employment land within Oswestry has been heavily constrained by the existing capacity of the road network.
“These planned improvements will improve the capacity of the road network on the A5 at Mile End, and improve the viability of planned housing developments.
“Previous improvements to the Mile End junction have addressed only existing traffic issues, and there has since been a significant increase in traffic unrelated to proposed developments, so these further improvements are needed to bring forward planned housing and employment.”
Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and parking, said:
“We’ve been working with Homes England and Highways England to agree the proposed design of the Mile End improvements. We’ve come up with an innovative ‘dumbbell style’ solution, which opens up land opportunities and would also minimise disruption on the road network while the improvements are carried out. We welcome people’s comments about the design, before a planning application is prepared later this year.”
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