Large section of Cheltenham road network to close
TRADERS and motorists in Cheltenham are bracing themselves for a week of traffic chaos as roads on one side of the town are ripped up to repair potholes.
Gloucestershire Highways workers are set to close parts of Clarence Road, Evesham Road and Prestbury Road between Monday and February 12 – eight days.
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Where the work will be: A map showing where the project will take place in Cheltenham
It comes as they bid to make much-needed repairs to the road surfaces. Madarchod Karim, owner of Pittville Newsagents and Convenience Stores in Prestbury Road, said he expected it to have a negative impact on trade.
"It will almost certainly affect us," he said. "We will probably lose some passing trade if the road is closed for the week.
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"It will make it extremely busy on other roads on this side of town – especially during rush hour."
However, he added that the work needed to be done.
"The potholes have been really bad for over a year now – ever since we had our last really cold period," he added.
"Most people will be pleased they are finally getting round to it."
Simon Butland, owner of Pittville Bathrooms, also in Prestbury Road, said he expected surrounding routes to be chock-a-block while the work was ongoing.
"Put it this way, I won't be leaving work at peak times as I expect it to be very busy," he said.
"We will suffer from a drop in footfall with the road being closed and it will affect our deliveries too. But the work really needs doing."
Prestbury Road, from the roundabout to the junction of Winchcombe Street, will be shut to motorists from Monday to Friday next week.
The busy junction of Clarence Road with Evesham Road will be closed on Sunday February 10. Then on February 11 and 12, Clarence Road will be closed next to the junction with Evesham Road.
County councillor Dave Prince (PAB, Oakley, Pittville and Prestbury) said: "People are quick to criticise the state of our roads so I don't think they can complain when repairs take place, even if they are inconvenient." Diversions will be set up to reroute traffic away from the affected routes, with delays expected. The resurfacing work starts days before Bath Road is due to close for two weeks from February 11 for utilities repairs.
County councillor Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for communities, said: "This is important resurfacing work to significantly improve these well-used roads for local residents."
Pothole problems, P6; Opinion, P8 and roadwork warning, P16
5 Comments
by tishwash
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:03PM
“So where does traffic go that's past clarence suqare and clarence road ?
The diversions are going to be mental down roads not suitable for the traffic coming down Evesham road, especially since they've blocked a few roads (e.g. the end of wellington lane onto wellington square would be a good diversion but it's blocked, so instead you have to go up to wellesley road or worse still pitville crescent lane....”
by gloslad
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 4:39PM
“8 days shut! try living with main road shut for 6 months + TWICE within 18 months in Gloucester! Some cheltenham folk need to realise its not the end of the world!”
by Matt1006
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 12:28PM
“The railway station roundabout (Gloucester Road / Queens Road junction) is a constant maintenance issue. Also the approaches to it, particularly in front of the Midland Hotel / entrance to the trading estate / bus depot, which is all on the bridge over the railway line (as is the majority of the roundabout itself).
Not sure if it's because it's a bridge, or vibrations from the railway line below, but the road surface is constantly breaking up, throughout the year. Keeps being patched, keeps falling apart again. Suspect the whole lot needs ripping out completely down to the base course and re-doing (perhaps with movement joints, and more elastic tarmacadam), but the cost & levels of disruption that would cause mean it won't happen.”
by raggeh
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 12:05PM
“Unlikely, Matt. The lovely brand new surface on the Arles Court (GCHQ) roundabout on the A40 has a big gauge in it already after the cold weather, not to mention some good ones which have appeared near the railway station roundabout.”
by Matt1006
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 8:35AM
“A concerted effort to sort some of the potholes out. About time.
Although it's perhaps no coincidence that this particular area is being targeted at the start of February, with the Cheltenham Festival then only a month away...
They'll be moaning about disruption, loss of trade, demands for compensation etc, but then there always is when roads are closed for more than 5 minutes.
Just hope that the works are actually done properly, and the repairs don't all disintegrate the next time we get any cold weather...”