£54 million funding approved for Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road
The Department for Transport is providing £54 million for Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road, following approval by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
The Shrewsbury North West Relief Road will see a four-mile bypass, running from the Ellesmere Road Roundabout at Battlefield, in the north of the town, to the A5 at Churncote Island.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:
“The North West Relief Road is just what Shrewsbury needs to reduce congestion in and around the town.
“We are investing £54 million in this exciting new scheme, helping drivers get from A to B more quickly, while improving air quality for residents.”
The scheme will also include two new bridges, and accessible crossings allowing cyclists, pedestrians and vulnerable users to travel safely.
Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:
“This announcement is brilliant news and means that our thorough and detailed business case for a Shrewsbury North West Relief Road has been recognised and supported by the government. Today’s announcement really is the culmination of many years’ hard work by a great number of people and it’s been a real team effort between council officers, councillors, MPs, our engineering consultants and many more.
“The North West Relief Road will benefit not just Shrewsbury but the whole of Shropshire and, though there is some way to go before the road is built and in use, securing this funding from the government is a huge step towards making this much-needed road a reality.”
A shared footpath and cycleway will be built on the southern part of the road, bordered on both sides by open space.
Work on the scheme is likely to start in 2022 with the total cost of the project in the region of £75 million.
An animated fly-over video has been produced to show the proposed route of the road:
