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Improvement works planned for major county A roads

Chloe Hughesin Shropshire
National Highways Two road signs side by side, each in an arrow shape. They are green with white and yellow writing. The sign on the left points left, and the sign on the right points right. On the left, the sign reads "Welshpool A458". the sign on the right reads "Shrewsbury A458".National Highways
Work will take place on the A5, A458 and A483

An investment of £30m will make three major A roads in and around Shropshire safer and improve commuters' journeys, National Highways said.

Dubbed "The Shropshire Triangle", the roads that will see improvements are the A5, A483 and A458.

Sitting on and near the England-Wales border, they provide vital links between the Midlands, north Wales and the north West.

National Highways described the roads as "tired" and said they would be resurfaced, as well as drainage being repaired to ease flooding, and safety barriers would be renewed.

"Many of the roads we manage were built around 60 years ago and now need renewing to keep people and goods moving safely and reliably, while supporting future growth," said National Highways route manager for Shropshire, Joseph Walmsley.

"We know that these are key routes, so it is good news for Shropshire that we can now get on with these essential works and ultimately improve journeys for local communities, businesses and all who use these roads.

"But that can't happen without some disruption for drivers and local people so please bear with us while we bring your roads up to the standard you expect and need."

National Highways An aerial diagram map of Shropshire with much of the landscape greyed out. There is a green road route travelling from the A5 in Shrewsbury in the centre of the map, to the left and upwards, ending in Oswestry on the upper left of the map. The route is labelled with various text boxes which tell you what work will be done, including "A5 Preston roundabout to M54 resurfacing", and "A5 Emestry island signals". On the left of the map, there is a short pink line, labelled A458, which travels from near Shrewsbury up to the Welsh border. A text box reads "A458 Shrewsbury to Welsh border resurfacing and drainage renewal". Finally, a small blue road is show in the top left of the map, as a strand off the long green line. It goes from Oswestry to the Welsh border, and has a text box that reads "A483 Oswestry to Welsh border resurfacing, safety barrier, drainage and footpaths."National Highways
A map of the planned works

A458

The first set of works will start on 5 October on the A4598 from Shrewsbury to the Welsh border.

National Highways said sections of the road surface had reached the end of their working life, and repairs would be made, as well as drainage works and the laying of high-friction surfacing to help prevent skidding.

It said the works was expected to finish in March and would largely take place overnight when traffic numbers were lower.

A5

Work on the A5 from Chirk to Preston is the largest scheme taking place.

It will begin in January 2027 and will run until spring 2028, being carried out in phases to minimise disruption.

It will include resurfacing, draining, repairs to bridge joins, replacing traffic loops - which inform signals - cutting vegetation and removing trees that have contracted ash dieback disease.

Traffic signals will also be replaced on the A5 at Dobbies roundabout.

A483

Work on the A483 will begin in 2027/28, from Oswestry to the Welsh border, and will take about eight months to complete.

It will see resurfacing work, repairs to concrete barriers, and drainage renewals.

National Highways added that other projects being investigated include a scheme to improve safety on the stretch of road, the potential of adding a roundabout at Llynclys and improvements to the A5 Oswestry roundabouts.

Further updates will be given when available, it added.

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