Traffic chaos could cripple parts of Shrewsbury ahead of Sir Elton John’s big concert on Sunday, as engineers face a race against time to fix a gaping hole after part of a pavement collapsed.
Hazeldine Way, close to the Greenhous Meadow, has been partly shut since Saturday night after part of the pavement caved in, forcing the road to be closed for safety reasons.
Elton John.
Shropshire Council had planned to close Oteley Road outside Shrewsbury Town FC’s stadium for Sunday’s concert, which will be attended by about 16,000 people.
But bosses may be forced to revise that plan as they begin repair works to fill the void ‘as soon as possible’. It has formed beneath the carriageway surface at the pedestrian crossing point at the exit from Meole Brace roundabout.
Shropshire Council said that a historic well could be to blame for the collapse of the pavement. The road has since been closed eastbound, between Meole Brace roundabout and Pritchard Way.
A spokesperson for Shropshire Council said repair work would involve filling the hole with quarry stone; laying a two-metre thick concrete slab; creating a new manhole for future monitoring and laying a new road surface and pavement.
Tim Sneddon, head of environmental maintenance at the council, said work was expected to be completed by Saturday evening but stressed that if it was necessary a section of Hazeldine Way could remain shut on Sunday during the concert.
Ticketholders have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys.
A section of Oteley Road will be closed off to general and through traffic for the duration of the event.
Parking restrictions will be in place for Meole Estate, Meole Village, Sutton Park, Reabrook, Belle Vue South and Sutton Farm.
Shropshire Council has issued residents in those areas with parking passes.
Concert-goers will not be allowed to park in these areas. Drivers will also be banned from using the roads for dropping off and picking up people attending the event.
Those driving to the concert have been told the rear access gate to the stadium behind Sainsbury’s superstore will be closed.
Meanwhile, Severn Trent contractors have re-opened a section of Wenlock road which was previously closed, and through traffic is being diverted from Meole Brace roundabout, eastbound along Oteley road to Weeping Cross island, and via Wenlock road, Column roundabout and Haycock Way to Pritchard Way.
by Charlotte Hester