The next week is going to difficult for traffic in Ludlow. Sheet Road and Lower Galdeford are due to be closed in stages from Monday 23 March until Tuesday 31 March. Anyone who has driven or cycled over these roads recently, or has passed through on a bus will be familiar with the shaking and rattling that the road surface generates. The road needs resurfacing and that what’s going to happen from tomorrow. It will be disruptive but it will be worth the delays to get the road fixed. In the first few days, roads works could cause traffic entering Sheet Road to back up onto the A49 bypass.
Work will begin at the top of Sheet Road by the Co-op, with single lane traffic controlled by four-way lights. The intention is to get this very disruptive phase over as quickly as possible to reduce delays getting to Ludlow Business Park on Parys Road and the retail park on Foldgate Lane.
The exact phasing of the rest of the work is uncertain. It will in part depend on the weather though the forecast is currently good. After the top of the road by the Co-op is completed, the next major bottleneck will be between Sidney Road and Weeping Cross, especially under the railway bridge. The road will be closed to vehicles at that point and closed periodically in sections when required for the work.
There will be delays which sometimes might be lengthy.
Buses will be allowed through the roadworks whenever possible. Householder will be allowed access to their properties, again when possible. Pedestrians will be allowed through at all times. Cyclists may have to dismount. There will be delays.
Cadent’s works around on Sheet Road around Weeping Cross are due to finish on Sunday 29 March. These are taking place ahead of the resurfacing so that for once, the new surface is not dug up as soon as it is laid.
There are many more roads in Ludlow that need resurfacing. We are pressing for these to be given priority but every councillor in the county is doing the same. Some roads, like Parys Road need emergency patching (a few potholes were done on Friday afternoon at my request). But such patching rarely lasts through a winter.
After the roads were neglected by the omnishambles of the Conservative administration at Shropshire Council, particularly the lack of preventative maintenance in 2024/25, there is a lot of catching up to do.
Up to date information of roadworks from One.Network. Report road defects on Fix My Street.