Network Rail has confirmed that a road closure sign on the Eccleshall Road near Norton Bridge had been tampered with, after residents raised concerns that the displayed dates did not match earlier guidance.
The sign, which appeared to suggest the closure would remain in place until March, also included misspellings such as “Rode closeb here” and “Diversion in used”, prompting questions locally about its authenticity.
The issue was highlighted on our social media channels on Tuesday 3 February, after residents compared the sign to earlier updates which indicated the road was due to reopen in February.
Following that post, a spokesperson for Network Rail confirmed that their engineering team have been made aware and will be sending colleagues out to replace the sign. Noting that it appears to have been tampered with.
They once again re-iterated that the expected date for reopening of the road is Friday 13 February.
The closure continues to affect traffic between Stone, Norton Bridge and surrounding villages, with diversions still in place.
We will share any further updates if signage is changed again or if the expected reopening date is revised.
