Angry residents have branded resurfacing work in Shrewsbury ‘a shambles’ after large holes were left in the road, causing weeks of disruption for motorists.
Improvement work to North Street in Castlefields, close to the junction of Queen Street, was scheduled to begin in July but continual delays meant the programme was changed five times – until it was finally carried out in early October.
But the ‘new’ road surface was in such a poor condition that large parts of the tarmacadam lifted from the ground, leaving substantial holes in the road.
The damage is thought to have been caused by a sweeper applying too much suction at the end of the job.
The road was left in such a bad state that subcontractors Colas have agreed to reimburse Shropshire Council for costs incurred as a result of the blunder. This includes money spent on notifying residents of changes, such as altering road signs.
Colas resurfaced the road for a second time last Friday, removing the divots on the road, but concerns have still been raised about the untidy patchwork effect which has been left behind.
And angry residents have faced weeks of disruption after they were first told about the work.
Councillor Alan Mosley said: “Residents were told the work was taking place on five different occasions but it kept getting changed at the last minute. Then when it was finally done it was extremely poor quality and loads of the new surface just came up immediately – it was a bit of a disaster.
“I’m very concerned with how this has been handled and subcontracted out because the situation has not been adequate and has caused residents so much disruption, which is not good enough.
“I do hope the council now looks at this because I was disgusted over the lack of organisation and the quality of the work when it was finally done.”
A Castlefields resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “The work done there was an absolute shambles. It looked like a five-year-old had done the job although come to think of it, a five-year-old would probably have done a better job.”
Gary Rogers, Shropshire Council’s senior highways manager, said: “Remedial works have been carried out by our contractors to the recent resurfacing works on North Street in Castlefields as these were originally not up to standard.”
Colas were unavailable for comment as the Chronicle went to press.
By David Seadon