|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Co-ordinated effort on Heavitree works Local authorities, utilities and bus companies are co-ordinating their efforts to minimise the impact of major engineering works on residents, shoppers and businesses in Heavitree in Exeter.
South West Water is bringing forward its pipe re-lining scheme and will provide extra resources in order to progress the scheme in time for major enhancements to be carried out in the Fore Street area of Heavitree this summer. The South West Water scheme will require an in-bound lane closure for ten weeks from 5 May. Police will monitor inbound traffic movements during peak hours to prevent illegal tailgating and parking. Traffic control will be used to help the flow of buses and traffic. South West Water contractors will be working at either end of the project, at Honiton Road and Heavitree Road, for the initial fortnight to speed up the work. MIDAS is also taking the opportunity to co-ordinate its service connection works to its Almshouses re-development during the first week of work. A £550,000 enhancement scheme funded by Exeter City Council and Devon County Council will start on 18 June and is expected to take 12 weeks. The improvements will upgrade traffic signals at the junction of Fore Street, North Street and Church Street, the pedestrian crossing outside the Ship and Pelican pub will be moved, and Church Street will be made one way in between Fore Street and Alma Place. Natural stone paving will be laid on the footpaths around the junction and outside the Royal Oak pub, where Exeter City Council will also be providing a public art display. Graham Murphy, Director of Engineering for South West Water, said: "Our £29 million water quality improvement scheme has already helped 'put the sparkle back' for thousands of homes and businesses throughout the city. "When Devon County Council told us they wanted to do a programme of street improvements on Fore Street, we agreed to fast-track our plans and bring the work forward so that we didn't dig up the road they had just improved. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience these works may cause but we will be doing everything we can to keep residents, businesses and commuters informed as much as possible." Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "These schemes have required a massive co-ordinated effort from everyone. To keep disruption to a minimum, some of the enhancement work will start during the South West Water lane closure period, as the water main works are being completed." Following discussions with Stagecoach it has been agreed that the bus service S, which travels once every twelve minutes, will pass through the inbound lane closure between 7am and 10pm. Outside of these times it will use the designated diversion routes for buses which will be managed and signed by Stagecoach. Other services will be maintained, but diverted during the inbound closure. Passengers unable to travel direct to Heavitree on the diverted services will be able to use their ticket to travel on services from the city centre back to Heavitree. Inbound traffic will be diverted from Honiton Road along Hill Barton Road, Cumberland Way, Pinhoe Road and Western Way. Diversion signs for the South West Water scheme will not go up until after the Great West Run has finished on 4 May. The work and inbound closure will also be suspended during the Devon County Show from 15-17 May. Emergency services have planned accordingly for the works and access for all emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times. Parking restrictions will be enforced but residents and businesses will be informed in advance and notices will be placed on vehicles. Businesses will be open as usual throughout the improvement works. -Ends- Published: 24 April 2008 Notes for editors
|
||||||||||||||||||
          |
||||||||||||||||||
| Accessibility | Copyright | Help | Privacy and Cookies | Site map | Terms and Conditions | A Pennon Group Company |