NWRR reaches eye watering £215m cost
Figures have been released to show the NWRR would now cost £215m to build. Originally, the 4-mile bypass in Shrewsbury was forecast to cost £80m.
The design is terrible with no future proofing for traffic growth. Traffic forecasts show it will provide little relief in Shrewsbury and just displace problems to the surrounding areas.
I have maintained for ages it would have been far more cost-effective to fix issues on the existing bypass to improve journey times and relieve traffic for years. For example, it would be far more beneficial if this money was spent fixing Debbie’s Island with an underpass.
Locally perennial issues could be fixed with relative ease instead:
- Queen’s Head A5 Junction and Shotatton accident blackspots,
- Burma Road footpath in Park Hall,
- A5 Whittington Road roundabout,
- Traffic relief for Whittington on Station Road.
Speaking as a Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor, it is an absolute scandal that the NWRR would cost £39m to cancel. It is extreme negligence that this amount of money has already been committed by Shropshire before a full business case has even been made. £39m is money that is desperately needed across our area to improve safety and the local economy. Squandering £215m on a 4 mile road with limited upside is incredulous.
It is now incredibly important that this discredited and irresponsible Conservative administration at Shirehall is shown the door next May. Enough is enough. This madness needs to stop.
