Water main work reaches town centre
23 July 2010
Wessex Water will start work next week to lay a new water main in Bridgwater town centre.
The work will take place at the Penel Orlieu junction with the A39.
Engineers are laying the new water main so major parts of the town centre can be supplied with water while work takes place to renew water mains in other areas.
The work is taking place as part of Wessex Water’s £10m Operation Clean and Clear project which involves around 27km of water mains being replaced, relined or cleaned in Bridgwater to improve water quality.
Project manager Davin Eversett said the company had gone to great lengths to reduce the impact this section of work will have on motorists.
He said: “We will be inserting the new water main within the existing main through a technique that will reduce the amount of excavating required in the highway.
“Additionally the water main will be partly laid below a pavement to ensure there is less road work involved.”
Although Wessex Water will be carrying out the work in the middle of one of the busiest junctions in Bridgwater, there will only be limited restrictions for traffic.
One lane will be closed for motorists travelling from High Street and those travelling from North Street won’t be able to turn right into West Street if the vehicle they are driving is more than 7.5 tonnes.
The work will start on Wednesday 28 July and is expected to last for six weeks. However, the work in the road will hopefully be completed within four weeks.
Mr Eversett added: “This section of work is an essential part of our scheme to improve the quality of water for people and businesses in the town.
“The work may cause some delays to journeys, but through using innovative techniques we hope to complete the work quickly to reduce any impact it may have.”
More information about Operation Clean and Clear can be found at www.wessexwater.co.uk/bridgwater.