Two roads in the centre of Bath are to be temporarily closed to allow for works to take place for the installation of safety bollards as part of the “ring of steel” security scheme.
Cheap Street in Bath | Photo © Colin Peachey / Shutterstock.com
Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders will enable road closures to be placed on the streets, ready for when the utility work starts in August.
The orders for the road closures are for six months on Cheap Street and Hot Bath Street. These will only be in place during the works and when signs and marshals are in position.
Access for Blue Badge holders will be maintained on Cheap Street, Westgate Street, Upper Borough Walls, however, access and egress routes will change.
As the work starts and progresses, these will be signposted and marshals will be available to help people.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has said it will be writing to residents, businesses and Blue Badge holders to explain alternative access arrangements for Cheap Street, as well as details of webinars where people can ask questions to the project team.
Initial fibreducting work, as part of the council scheme to install new security measures, started in June and is progressing well, with works completed ahead of schedule in Burton Street and Terrace Walk.
The contractor carrying out the work has now moved to Lower Borough Walls and Hot Bath Street to complete the final stage of ducting works. These are expected to be complete by mid-September.
The first stage of installing the permanent measures included the advance works required for ducting and the movement of utilities prior to the installation of the hostile vehicle mitigation sliding and static bollards.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: “We are installing the permanent proportionate and preventative measures which will protect public safety, based on police advice.
“We will do all we can to minimise disruption as we carry out this complex work which is going to take many months.
“As we have done all along we are keeping residents, businesses and any other directly affected users informed about this work including advice on alternative access arrangements via temporary diversions and the use of traffic marshals in order to minimise any disruption.”
Due to the unique nature of the city and highway construction, there are a number of challenges within the programme.
These include working above existing vaults and cellars, working in close proximity to utility apparatus and maintaining access to the restricted streets for exempt vehicles.
The council has carried out investigative works but until contractors get on site, the construction timeline is estimated and completion dates can’t be guaranteed.
