This evening I have received an answer to my question to the County Council about why it will take so long (6 weeks) to undertake the carriageway works on the A338. To quote in full:
"The closure notice indicates a time scale that we can safely achieve the road works. The work entails a reconstruction of some 200 metres of the A338 Grove Road down to a depth of between 230mm and 380mm. This is not a straightforward plane out and put back scheme and therefore will take up to the identified 6 weeks. We will endeavour to carry out the works as quickly as possible. Through traffic will be diverted but we will work with the local residents and keep them informed of access arrangements to their properties during the works."
Thanks for the info. There's some confusion as to where the road closure actually starts - is it by Elms Farm or by the traffic lights? I need to know if access to the vets is going to be easily available as we have a poorly dog!
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
According to the map I have been given, the closure is shown at the traffic lights. However, the letter assures me that access to properties will be allowed where possible.
ReplyDelete"where possible" - doesn't sound very reassuring! So if we need to visit the vet, do we just drive up there and hope they'll let us through? Seriously, this is ridiculous (but am grateful to you for the info).
ReplyDeleteThe exact quote from my letter states 'Every effort will be made to accommodate essential vehicular access to properties within the works area, but this will be subject to progress of the works. Individual requirements will have to be agreed with the site supervisor, once works have started on site.' So I expect that has to be open to interpretation on the day!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that the roads need mending - there are some very poor surfaces around Wantage at the moment. However whilst there are diversions in place there are no traffic controls to ensure efficient movement of traffic. The queues are not limited to rush hour traffic - legitimately parked cars and buses are causing congestion during the day and local residents have difficulty getting out of their roads. All this just as the schools go back. I guess the roads used for the diverted traffic will require mending next!
ReplyDeleteI really don't understand why this could not been done in the school holidays. Articulated lorries trying to negotiate over the humps and roundabouts in Oxford Lane whilst children are leaving the school is an accident waiting to happen. As Wallingford street is now also closed for yet more roadworks, this will only make things worse.... Did this really have to be done the same time as the A338?
ReplyDeleteThe rationale for the 2 schemes being progressed at the same time is due to the Government making additional funding available for local authorities, to assist in carrying out maintenance to roads deteriorated by the winter frosts.
ReplyDeleteWith increasing pressure being placed on the existing maintenance budgets this was an opportunity that the council could ill afford too lose and therefore set about identifying a programme of sites to spend some £1M. A condition of receiving this funding was however, that it must be spent by October 2010.