Shrewsbury residents and commuters should prepare for a series of overnight road closures as Network Rail begins essential maintenance on two prominent railway bridges this May. The project, managed by contractor Amco Giffen, involves extensive cleaning, structural repairs, and repainting of the Castle Foregate and Great Western railway bridges.
Structural repairs for Castle Foregate and Great Western bridges
The maintenance program targets two key structures near the town center. The Great Western bridge, situated on Castle Foregate between Star BBQ Kebab and The Shrewsbury Ark, will undergo significant steelwork repairs alongside the Castle Foregate bridge. Beyond structural integrity, the project addresses local hygiene and maintenance issues by replacing existing pigeon-proofing panels with new mesh to prevent roosting and fouling under the structures.
Work is scheduled to run from 23 May through 11 September 2026. While the bridges will remain open to vehicles during daylight hours, several phases of the project require full road closures to allow for the safe erection of scaffolding and high-intensity painting tasks.
Overnight road closure schedule and diversion routes
To minimize disruption to daytime traffic, the majority of heavy work is restricted to overnight windows. During these times, Castle Foregate, Cross Street, and Howard Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic. A signed diversion route will be active during every closure period.
| Work Phase | Closure Timing and Details |
|---|---|
| Weekly Maintenance | Sunday mornings: 12:30am – 7am (Commencing 24 May) |
| Initial Scaffolding | Mon–Thu nights: 8pm – 6am (5 weeks commencing 7 June) |
| Final Phase | Sun–Thu nights: 8pm – 6am (Final 2 weeks of the scheme) |
There will be no overnight road closures on Friday nights throughout the duration of the project. The Sunday morning closures are specifically timed between 12:30am and 7am to coincide with the longest period of zero train activity, ensuring worker safety during critical engineering tasks.
Pedestrian access and emergency service coordination
Pedestrian movement will be restricted throughout the scheme. The footpath on the station side of Castle Foregate and Castle Gates will be closed entirely. Pedestrians will be directed via a signed diversion to the footpath on the opposite side of the road. However, a pedestrian walkway will remain available even during the overnight road closure periods.
Shropshire Council has confirmed that emergency service access will be maintained at all times. Specific coordination with the fire service has already taken place to ensure response times are not compromised by the scaffolding or road blocks. David Vasmer, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways, noted that the scheme was programmed specifically to minimize impact following other recent works in the area. Residents and businesses directly affected by the work will receive direct notifications, and advance warning signs will be placed on-site before each phase begins.
Source: Shropshire Council Newsroom
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