Work to stabilise the bank underneath the A36 between Bathampton and Limpley Stoke has begun, and has already caused some problems with traffic still trying to use the road.
The work involves the A36 from Hantone Hill in Bathampton to Brassknocker Hill in Monkton Combe being closed from yesterday, Monday 2nd March to 16th June 2015 for the necessary remedial repairs to be carried out.
The road had some parts resurfaced in 2013, after which a survey of the road discovered cracks indicating that some parts of the road could be at risk of sliding down the hill.
Work was delayed a number of times over the past two years, partly due to equipment not being available but also due to other local road closures such as the landslide at Midford.
The A36 provides one of the main artery routes into and out of the city and the closure will mean thousands of drivers will need to find alternative routes while the road is stabilised.
The work is part of the Government’s investment in England’s strategic road network to support the economy, providing safer and more reliable journeys.
The Highways Agency are hoping to correct the geotechnical faults in the bank underneath the road that is resulting in ongoing damage to the road surface.
Highways Agency Project Sponsor, Rachel Scott, said: “Work includes stablising the bank with concrete, putting in a new steel barrier and repairs to the road surface.
“We have considered the works very carefully but a full closure of the road will be necessary to accommodate the size of equipment needed to complete this very important work.
“We do appreciate this will cause disruption and we have been consulting with a wide variety of stakeholders for many months to keep them fully informed of our plans.
“Everything possible is being done to keep disruption to an absolute minimum and complete the works as quickly as possible.and we would like to thank road users and local residents for their patience while we carry out this important maintenance.”
The scheme will cost about £2.3 million.
The road will remain closed throughout the works to through traffic, but it will be accessible for residents under supervision of workmen.
Clearly signed diversions are currently in place, though yesterday some road users did not heed the diversion and attempted to head along the route.
A large HGV needed assistance to head back along the Warminster Road after passing a number of signs advising the road was closed.
The diversion routes are:
- Northbound through traffic or wide or heavy vehicles would be diverted from the A36 just west of Warminster to take the A350 north to Chippenham where traffic would join the A4 west to Bath.
- Southbound through traffic or wide or heavy vehicles would be diverted at Bath to take the A4 east towards Chippenham and then south on the A350 to join the A36 west of Warminster.
