Latest news with #roadworks
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Delay warning as roadworks cause long queues on major road to Oxford
Drivers have been warned to expect delays on a major A-road into Swindon as roadworks begin. Temporary traffic lights were installed at Little Coxwell on the A420 between Swindon and Faringdon shortly before 9am on Wednesday, July 23. This has caused long queues in both directions on the key route throughout Wednesday. One motorist said: 'I was really frustrated on my commute because traffic was moving really slowly, there is frequently works along the A420. 'I know they're maintaining the facilities but it can be frustrating at rush hour.' Suggested reading Emergency crews rush to out of control bonfire near nursery Man sought by police after assault near train station Search for black Doberman after dog attack at landmark Be the first to know with the Swindon Advertiser! 📱 💡 Our flash sale brings the latest local happenings directly to you. Save over 50% on an annual subscription now. 🔗 #SpecialOffer — Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) July 4, 2025 Slow traffic is expected to continue on the A420 for several days with the roadworks scheduled to remain in place until 5pm on Tuesday, July 29. During this time, Scottish and Southern Power Distribution will be working at the site. The AA has warned drivers using the A420 to expect delays in the area during the roadworks as queueing traffic continues. Its live traffic map said: 'Temporary traffic signals due to electricity work on A420 both ways at Little Coxwell turn off. Expect delays.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A high street has turned into 'a ghost town'
Delayed roadworks have turned a high street into "a ghost town," as Birkenhead town centre looks set to deal with more work until June 2026. Regeneration works across Birkenhead are moving forward on the main high street on Grange Road, Charing Cross, Conway Street, and Europa Boulevard. These are intended to feed into the regeneration of the town centre and 'make the area a better, safer and a more connected place to live, work and travel.' The scheme, being delivered by GRAHAM, is understood to be a year behind schedule with more than half still to be done, and the costs have doubled. Originally approved with a £11.9m budget, it's expected to now cost £24m. READ MORE: Told to leave in 24 hours and no word on when they can return READ MORE: 'He broke my family and left three children without their mother' A new report before the local authority's policy and resources committee on July 23 has outlined the situation. Serious questions have been raised about the council's former leadership, and it's now expected the council might have to borrow £8m to cover the costs. The report said the main reasons for the delay 'relate to design, both in terms of late design information being provided together with design issues such as the depth of construction and unknown statutory utility services equipment.' Defects have also been raised by the site supervisor, which are being worked through. Violet Perkins comes to Birkenhead every week. She told the ECHO: 'It's disgraceful; it shouldn't have taken so long." She added: 'There's no shops open. I find it very difficult to go to shops because of the work. I just come in once a week because it's horrendous.' While she understood the scheme could lead to future investment by making it look more attractive, she argued: 'You aren't going to invest in a property if you can't get to it.' As the barriers keeping the public away from the works have narrowed the road, Layla Dillon said: 'I do not come into Birkenhead any more, I go to Liverpool now because of the small gaps. You can't get the pram down here. I just get on the bus and go to Liverpool. 'There's only a bit to walk down, and sometimes when it's rammed, people do not care. It's so small, especially down by the Pyramids. There's only one way in.' Stephen Oakes lives ten minutes up the road and feels the scheme would make the area look cleaner. However, he added: 'It's had a big impact on the buses; the buses are sometimes ten to fifteen minutes late. "I have got to school late because of the bus to drop my son off. I have been late for appointments.' Kimberley Trevor felt some of the delays were because 'they need to make their minds up about what is changing and what is staying,' adding: 'They are taking things away and bringing them back. It's not fair on the people that live in Birkenhead. 'I think they are trying to make it look better so more people want to shop, but that doesn't change what the town is. Down here used to be packed constantly. 'You can see the difference; not many people come here. It's like a ghost town. This used to be packed when I was little; now it's not.' It's not just the public too. In a recent committee meeting, councillors from different parties criticised the situation, and Cllr Jo Bird said there were very serious questions about the council's contract and contractor GRAHAM. Conservative Cllr Andrew Gardner told the ECHO the council needed a different approach going forward. Wirral's new council leader Cllr Paula Basnett said she shared the public's frustration and pointed to the external investigation she called for. She previously said the council needed to "get a proper grip of what is going on," adding: "Strong leadership demands that difficult decisions are faced up to." Oxton councillor Stuart Kelly also told the ECHO it was clear the scheme has been off track for a while "with scant evidence of works progressing and road closures with nothing being done." Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist said he also raised concerns in April as 'frankly anyone walking or driving through Birkenhead cannot have missed the slow progress of this work." GRAHAM, the firm delivering the scheme, said it would not be commenting. Merseytravel was also approached for comment.
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Six months of Itchen Bridge works to begin in August
Six months of maintenance work on Southampton's Itchen Bridge has been announced. The city council said the work - starting on Monday 11 August - would "enhance the lifespan of the bridge for many years to come" and was scheduled to finish in February bridge will remain fully open during peak times, but temporary traffic lights will be in place between 09:30 and 15:30 each day. Overnight closures for vehicles will run from 20:00 to 06: maintenance will include drainage upgrades, joint repairs, waterproofing, resurfacing of the road and pavement and new road markings. A temporary 20mph speed limit will also be in force throughout the works. The project replaces a previously planned eight-week closure in July 2024, which was scrapped in May last year. In January, councillors confirmed they were exploring ways to carry out the work without a full closure of the bridge. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Orwell Bridge in Ipswich reopens after weeks of delays
Construction work on a bridge has been completed about two weeks ahead of schedule. National Highways had been replacing the expansion joints of the bridge on the A14 in Ipswich, Suffolk, since eastbound carriageway reopened on Wednesday and a 40mph speed limit was put in place for safety Amor, from National Highways, said: "I would like to thank local residents, the community, businesses and drivers for their patience while we did this work." Work had caused severe delays and congestion for some drivers who used the also led to frustrations for businesses in the area, with concerns about the effect it would have on inward investment. The westbound carriageway reopened on Monday with the road then fully reopened on work is still expected for about a week to replace a safety barrier and for other maintenance Amor added: "All has gone to plan and we worked around the clock to get things done on time."We have a 40pmh speed limit in place for safety reasons as the central reserve safety barrier is incomplete at this time."National Highways said it would review feedback following the roadworks ahead of the replacement of the eastbound joints. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Morton-on-Swale listed bridge repair work to last four weeks
Repair work on a listed bridge which has been repeatedly damaged by vehicles is to begin on Yorkshire Council said repairs to the bridge in Morton-on-Swale, due to last four weeks, were designed to cause as little disruption to road users as bridge, on the A684 between Bedale and Northallerton, has been struck by vehicles a number of times in recent years, including twice in the last two Grade II listed structure also needed repairs in 2019 after damage caused by a crash. North Yorkshire Council's highways officials said detailed surveys had been carried out to design a repair scheme as well as work to recover stone has been sourced and a contractor appointed to carry out the the first and last two days, temporary traffic lights will be in place to allow scaffolding to be installed and removed, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.A temporary speed limit of 20mph will be introduced while work is ongoing. North Yorkshire Council's executive member for highways and transport, Malcolm Taylor, said: "Residents and road users have been waiting for us to announce details of a repair scheme and we are pleased to have designed one without the need to close the road."This is because most of the works will be carried out on the land side."The concrete barriers already in place on the bridge will be used to ensure a safe working area."His colleague Annabel Wilkinson, who represents the area on North Yorkshire Council, said the repairs had been timed to take place during the school holidays when there was less traffic."We have also timed it to avoid utility works in the village," she said."The temporary lights will be manned when they are in place to manage traffic flow and reduce disruption."We thank all road users for their patience and ask that they please adhere to the 20mph limit in place." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
