 The by-pass had been built to the east of Ludlow in the late 1970s (opening to traffic in the summer of 1979) and diverts the A49 trunk road around the town.The former route of the A49 through the town was re-classified as the B4361.The town centre retains its medieval streets and has had long-running problems with motor traffic and car parking, which is now restricted 7 days a week.