As many people will be aware, but worth repeating for those that don’t, Whittington level crossing closure is happening from the 30th of August to the 9th of September. This was published in the Shropshire Star in July: Shropshire village to be cut in half for 10 days
The closure is to rebuild the level crossing. This is welcome as the crossing certainly isn’t very level for road users. However, the disruption will be significant. The reconstruction of the crossing means a complete closure for 10 days.
The designated diversion route is via Station Road, Holyhead Road to Queens Head, the A5 back up to Whittington Road roundabout and back towards Whittington. This route does present a couple of problems:
- Its length means many people will take the shorter route via the Orthopaedic and Park Hall.
- School and service buses (70 / 70A) will need to reroute as well. If these buses follow the designated route it will be a lengthy double back either side of the diversion. Arriva haven’t published online any details of the route changes they want to make. School and service bus disruption isn’t particularly helpful during the first week of the new term. School buses from West Felton to The Marches school stand to be significantly delayed. {Update: Having chased Arriva they have confirmed that their buses will divert via Park Hall, the orthopaedic and Derwen Garden Center. They have also reassured me that posters will be put on the buses this week to advertise the changed route. They anticipate that under normal traffic conditions that this will add a 5 minute delay. For 10 days West Felton will have a direct route to the orthopaedic which many residents have asked for for a long time.} I can’t see many vehicles following the designated diversion.
The complete closure with run from 10 pm on Friday the 30th of August until 7:30 am on Monday the 9th of September.
Roadworks on A495 Oswestry Road, Whittington, Shropshire https://roadworks.org/?112894856