Roundabout roadworks to continue until the end of October (From This is The West Country)

Roundabout roadworks to continue until the end of October

4:22pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in News

WORK on installing a new gas mains at a busy roundabout in Chard is to take longer than envisaged.

The News reported earlier this week that Wales and West Utilities were hoping to have the work at the Victoria Avenue, East Street, Tapstone Road and Crewkerne Road junction finished by October 12.

But a spokesman for the company has now said that although work in East Street is due to be completed by tomorrow (Friday), the overall project will not be finished until October 26.

That is likely to bring fresh problems for businesses in the area who earlier this week said they had lost out on passing trade because people were avoiding the area due to the roundabout being marshalled by four-way traffic lights.

There is now the added problem that Chard Carnival is all set to take place on Saturday, October 13, and is scheduled to start at the roundabout which is currently at the centre of the roadworks.

But a spokesman for Wales and West Utilities said: "We are aware that this is the Carnival route, and so we have agreed with the highways authority that we will temporarily suspend work while it goes ahead.

"We will instead carry out work in the adjacent Avishayes Road and resume work in Crewkerne Road after the Carnival.

"When we restart work we will no longer need the temporary four-way traffic lights that have been in place at the roundabout.

"Instead, we will use two-way lights further along the road, which will improve traffic flow.

"This traffic management plan has been agreed with Somerset County Council. We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience this essential work may cause."

The company said the work formed part of its multi-million pound 30-year replacement programme across the south west of England and Wales where we are replacing old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings with highly durable, non-corroding plastic pipes with a lifespan of more than 80 years.