Church Road finally re-opens

On Sunday afternoon Church Road finally reopened to traffic. As we previously reported, the road was closed on 7th April to move utilities (gas water, electricity and telecoms) apparatus from the existing bridge over the River Frome onto a temporary bridge over the river. The works were planned to take two weeks to complete. All the utility companies coordinated their activities on site and everything went to plan until Bristol Water found obstructions underground that were not on any records. This meant that their diversion works were more complicated than originally expected and additional specialist components had to be fabricated (see picture below). As a result the bridge had to be closed for three weeks rather than two.


The hole shown in the picture on the left will remain until Bristol Water have been able to confirm that laboratory tests show the quality of water going through the diverted water mains is up to the required standard.




This process normally takes several days to complete so temporary three way traffic lights are in operation for Church Road at the junction with Bridge Road / Park Lane (see right). These lights will remain in place until the water quality is confirmed as satisfactory and the mains water diversion is connected and in operation.

There will be another closure for six weeks from 22 July over the peak summer holiday period while the bridge is demolished and replaced and the services reconnected across it. Local Lib Dem Councillors, Dave and Pat Hockey, are keen to ensure that South Glos Highways Engineers look closely at all of the possible risks of delays. They will also make sure that the problems associated with the diversion arrangements over the last 3 weeks are carefully considered and addressed in time for the planned six week closure.