Is this the end of roadworks misery?
Road Works: Market Harborough: High Street/ Town Centre Market Harborough Thursday 9th August 2012
LONG-SUFFERING motorists in Harborough are facing yet another road closure – and traffic bosses are unable to give assurances that the worst of the pain is nearing an end.
By Alex Blackwell Follow him on Twitter
Harborough’s High Street is being dug up for the second summer running as part of a £170,000 road resurfacing scheme, much to the frustration of businesses and motorists.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE ROADWORKS DEBATE:
Comment on our Facebook page by clicking here
Tweet your comments to our Twitter site
Just as that work finally gets ready to shift to Coventry Road, drivers were this week hit by the news that one of the main routes into Harborough will be closed off later this month.
Amid growing anger over the barrage of road closures – which includes the town being dug up four times over seven years for various schemes – the Mail pressed highways chiefs yesterday (Wednesday) to give assurances over any future roadworks.
But a County Hall spokesman was unable to pledge any respite for town drivers.
The noncommittal statement said: “The county council has not yet finalised its schedule of roadworks for the next year.
“Decisions will be taken in due course, subject to funding.”
The newest road closure will be on the Leicester Road, from the Alvington Way roundabout to just past the Innovation Centre on the A6.
It will run for four days from August 28 while resurfacing work is carried out.
Anyone travelling to or from Leicester will be affected. The suggested diversion route is via Foxton.
There will likely be major tailbacks during the rush-hour periods.
Motorists reacted with disbelief to the news.
GorrenUK said on the Mail’s Twitter feed: “Why don’t they just dig up the whole of Harborough and be done with it.”
Steve Ayre added: “Why couldn’t they have co-ordinated this with the other roadworks?”
The work taking place in the town centre at the moment has seen block-paved sections at the edges of the road replaced and the carriageway resurfaced,
Weather permitting, the first phase of work is due to be completed by this weekend and should see the High Street reopened.
Road closures will then move to Coventry Road.
Motorists were given a taste of how travel might be affected in Leicester Road on Monday when one lane was closed under temporary traffic lights while preparatory work was completed.
A County Hall spokesman said: “By closing Leicester Road to undertake our resurfacing work we will reduce the safety risks to our contractors and the public; we will reduce the overall period of work from 10 days to four days; we will reduce the costs of the work significantly and we will improve the quality of the workmanship and hence the overall durability of the road for the future.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Market Harborough
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
