Island Roads is praising the efforts of all partners involved in the carriageway improvement work at St George’s Way for limiting the impact of delays following unexpected challenges with on-site work.
The Isle of Wight Council scheme which began in March this year is the latest phase of ongoing investment to improve traffic flows in and around Newport and is designed to help resolve the bottlenecks currently caused at either end of St George’s Way by traffic queuing to enter Coppins Bridge and on the approach to ‘Matalan’ roundabout.
The grant-funded project involves extending the lanes at either end to enable traffic to travel along and beyond St George’s Way via Coppins Bridge and Matalan roundabout more efficiently. This in turn has required the re-routing of a number of utility services, including those from SSE, BT and WightFibre which sit beneath the carriageway /footway surface.
However, this has presented unexpected challenges with some significant services found in a different location to where they had been mapped. This required additional work which all parties have worked together to resolve.
Kevin Burton, Network Manager for Island Roads said:
“Unfortunately, even with all of the upfront planning on major schemes like these, it is sometimes impossible to know exactly what you are going to come across beneath the surface of the carriageway until you start to excavate.
“In this instance we came across a high voltage cable which was not where it had been mapped and which could have potentially added 3 months more work to the 6-month project. Thankfully because of the skills and local knowledge of all parties, we were able to resolve it with only the prospect of a much shorter 2 to 3-week delay. It is a prime example of partnership working at its best and we are very grateful to the utility companies for their support with this scheme.
“We are also grateful to residents for keeping to the diversion route which seems to be working well and causing minimal delays.”
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With BT and WightFibre diversions now complete, the widening of the carriageway and kerbing works will be completed at the western side before the crews move to complete similar works on the Eastern side of the carriageway.
Once completed the scheme will also provide an improved crossing at the Furrlongs junction meaning better access and safety for pedestrians.
The scheme has also enabled additional ducting to be installed for fibre broadband to future proof and allow for predicted growth in demand, thereby limiting the likelihood of significant cable works on site in the future.
Surfacing work which will follow the completion of carriageway work on-site will be undertaken overnight at the end of the scheme between mid to late August with the one-way diversion being lifted during daytime hours.
Personally I think it is totally disgraceful that these contractors have not committed to working a 24 / 7 hours contract . Not working weekends and evenings is ridiculous on this major thoroughfare !! . Came through the works on Friday at 1pm and not any machines being used and no workers to be seen ?? DISGUSTED.
They were more than likely on their lunch break. We also have ours at 13.00 till 13.30.
I would be watching where I was going, rather than looking out for something to moan about.
Seriously? a power cable is not where its should be, thats not unusual its what a tracer is for so you can check before you start a dig you should never assume cables and services are where they are supposed to be because very often they are not its basic planning any experienced plant operator or civil engineer will know this, but apparently not island roads staff.
I’m really surprised they haven’t put in a disability friendly raised foot path or subway and removed the pedestrian crossings which cause tailbacks as do the coppins ones, or utilised the road between Matalan and kfc to go into town, no need to go to coppins and come back to it then.
No one wanted this waste of our money, yet more funds wasted that could have gone towards the much needed bridge at Cowes that most people on the Island want instead of the floating disaster.