UPDATE ON ROAD WORKS: ADVANCE NOTICE OF COMPLETE ROAD CLOSURE

Houghton Parish Council wrote to SSEN with concerns about aspects of the roadworks in the village, and asking SSEN to improve its signage and to keep the community better informed about the scheme of works.

In response, the Project Manager visited the site last week and again this week. He has assured us that every effort has been made to allow local residents access to their properties even if access has inevitably been limited or blocked for short periods of time. There have also been issues with road signs apparently being pushed over after his workers have left the site and with delays to the works due to localised flooding. Sadly, there have also been several incidents of some drivers verbally abusing the men working on the road.

Following his visit to the site this week, he and the contractor have concluded that, as a result of the amount of excess through traffic and the localised flooding, they are going to have to insist on the full road closure on the sections of road they are working on. The sheer volume of traffic trying to pass through including large delivery lorries, food delivery vans and parcel delivery vans is proving very difficult for the men to continue working in a safe manner (and where the men are working passing vehicles have damaged the verge in places and they will need to put this right before completing their works). They are fully aware that this may cause some ill feeling amongst local residents but they have to think of the safety of the men onsite and avoid any incidents with other road users where possible.

They plan to finish the section that they are currently working on (which, subject to the weather, should be in one week). Thereafter, they intend to FULLY CLOSE a section of 300m at a time and insist that the diversion route be used. As far as residents who live within the section being worked on are concerned, they are planning on issuing a coloured card system for them to keep in their vehicles, so that the workmen know that they are genuine residents. These colour cards will change on every section as they move along the road. They will do everything they can to allow access to residents and businesses within the works at all times but will stop the through traffic.

The Project Manager thanks residents for their forbearance and apologises for any convenience caused. He believes it is essential to take this step in order to safeguard the workforce and to minimise any further delays. All traffic management has been checked and, other than the signs being thrown down and removed in some cases every night by someone (causing unnecessary extra work and time every morning driving the route and re-erecting them), some additional yard markers will be added to the Road closure signs as a countdown to the closure.

If you have any queries or questions regarding this update then please contact the Project Manager, Richard Kingston on 07584 011260 or [email protected]

Please note the Parish Council are unable to answer any queries regarding the update - Please contact the Project Manager as above.

Houghton Parish Council – 14th March 2024