ROADWORK operators have provided an update into emergency works taking place along a busy Poole road after weeks of inactivity.
SGN have closed a section of the A350 in Poole ahead of emergency gas works, with delays expected to remain for at least two more weeks.
Crews have closed off approximately 300 metres of road just before the slip road towards Upton Country Park by the Upton bypass.
However Andrew Wickham, managing director of Go South Coast which operates Morebus, previously questioned why the works began only to be seemingly left.
He said: “In summary, my issue is that these works have been in place for weeks – pretty much since Christmas – with no activity on site. Meanwhile, the Purbeck Breezer has to divert to a longer route to continue to serve Upton, and other buses such as the 10 and X8 suffer delays.”
Hi @SGNgas , we had a Twitter exchange about the interminable road works on the A35 at Poole which are delaying/diverting buses. Your DMs said someone would be in touch, but nobody has. No sign of activity on site yet again today. Going on for weeks now.
— Andrew Wickham (@AndrewWickhamGo) February 3, 2022
In response, an SGN spokesperson told the Daily Echo: “We’re carrying out emergency work here on a large diameter pipe which takes longer to repair and replace than our standard sized gas pipes.
“Our engineers are currently waiting on specialist parts to arrive on site so they can complete this work, which we anticipate to be done in two weeks’ time.”
Further concerns raised by Mr Wickham and Yellow Buses managing director David Squires were centred around an apparent lack of communication between roadwork operators and the public transport sector.
SGN said: “We’ve been liaising closely with the council who have put up signage, and buses would have been informed via the council and the permit in place.”
Another suggestion from Mr Wickham was that the works take place at night to avoid congestion and delays. However, the SGN spokesperson concluded: “With regard to working at night, unfortunately in these circumstances this won’t be possible but we are working as quickly as possible to have this essential work completed.”
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