A busy main road in Wiltshire is set to close for more than a month to allow for a gas infrastructure upgrade.
Wales & West Utilities is the firm working on the A350, and it will be upgrading gas pipes along the busy route through the town.
The company says the work is essential to keep the gas flowing safely and reliably to Westbury homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations.
Work on the project will see a major section of the A350 in Westbury shut to traffic during the school holidays, reopening in time for the start of the autumn term.
Wiltshire Council has confirmed the stretch between Haynes Road/West End and Market Place will be shut from Monday 21 July to Friday 29 August. There will be two phases.
In the first, which starts on Monday, West End will be closed between its junctions with Market Place and Haynes Road.
The second phase is due to start on Tuesday, August 26, and this will see a one-way system in place on Station Road for one week.
Access to the Market Place shopping area will remain open, but HGVs will face restrictions: lorries will only be allowed beyond The Mead and Bitham Park from the north for deliveries.
A 7.5-tonne weight limit will be imposed on The Mead and Bitham Park to stop heavy goods vehicles using them as through routes.
A diversion will be in place during the closure. Drivers are urged to follow the signed diversion route via the A361 through Southwick and Beckington, then the A36 to Upton Scudamore.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways at Wiltshire Council, said: “We understand this closure will cause disruption, but it’s vital to ensure the long-term safety and reliability of the gas network in Westbury.
“We’ve worked closely with Wales & West Utilities to minimise the impact as much as we can and maintain access for both residents and Market Place shoppers, and I’d like to thank residents and businesses for their patience and cooperation during this essential work.”
Barring any engineering difficulties, West & West Utilities say the gas emergency and pipeline service will finish the work by the end of August.
Wales & West Utilities Simon Lee is managing the work and said: “We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it really is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future.
“We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.”
He added: “This work is essential to keep the gas flowing to local homes and businesses today, and to make sure the gas network is ready to transport hydrogen and biomethane, so we can all play our part in a green future.”
Earlier this month West & West Utilities held a drop-in session at The Laverton, where they explained their plans and answered questions about the project. The company also has a Customer Service Team on hand for additional queries. They can be contacted by calling the freephone number: 0800 912 2999.
More information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/wwutilities.
