Water investigation work starts on Shrewsbury’s Roman Road

Severn Trent is starting investigation work on water pipes on Roman Road in Shrewsbury following a decision to bring forward a £1 million pipe improvement scheme in the area.

The decision to bring the project forward follows two burst pipes in December last year which flooded several local businesses.

Gareth Mead from Severn Trent Water said: “Before the work to replace the troublesome water pipes can start, we need to understand the condition of the ground and where other utility pipes are, and to do this we need to dig some trial holes.

"To do this safely, we’ll need to close a lane on the busy Meole Brace roundabout between the A5112 Hereford Road, and Moneybrook Way. We’ve arranged the work so that it happens only between 9am and 3pm to avoid the rush hour, and if all goes to plan, it should only take us 2 to 3 days to complete it.

“The following week, work will take place on Otley Road between the rail bridge crossing, working towards the Percy Thrower Garden Centre. This time we won’t have to close the road, but we’ll need to use temporary traffic lights for around 3 to 5 days.

“We understand that residents in the area may experience some disruption while the work is being carried out, and we can only apologise for this. However, this is important work - we need to do it now, in a planned and coordinated manner. If not, we may need to do more emergency work in the future if the water pipes burst again. In the long term, the benefits far outweigh any inconvenience this work may cause.”