Burton drivers are facing more disruption on the roads next week as a number of major routes will close overnight in preparation for a three-month closure of St Peter’s Bridge.
Staffordshire County Council will be carrying out resurfacing work from Monday night as it aims to make sure diversion routes in Burton town centre are in the "best condition possible" for when St Peter's Bridge closes on August 29, as part of a £6.1million repair project.
The highways team has announced that resurfacing work will take place over six consecutive nights at the junction of Stapenhill Road and Ashby Road junction, the Shobnall Road/Wellington Road Island, Wellington Street/Borough Road, Horninglow Street and the junction of Horninglow Street and Guild Street.
During the closure of St Peter's Bridge traffic will be diverted over Burton Bridge in both directions and will see drivers have to use others roads in town, which need to up to the task.
The £6.1m project by Staffordshire County Council will see vital strengthening work on St Peter's Bridge to allow HGVs to continue to use the bridge, along with waterproofing and resurfacing of the structure.
The St Peter's Bridge repairs will be completed by the end of November and are sure to cause major traffic issues in town given what a main route the bridge is.
And after this work is complete there will be little let up for motorists as this will be followed by improvements to Burton Bridge in the New Year.
Staffordshire County Council’s transport leader Councillor Mark Deaville said: "The St Peter's Bridge repair scheme is vital for the future prosperity of Burton and will strengthen and protect the route for the long-term.
"This is a major project and will mean the bridge will be free of unplanned and disruptive maintenance work in the future, and help support local businesses and economic growth.
"We are making every effort to minimise disruption and next week we will be carrying out repairs to roads along the diversion route – ensuring they are in the best condition possible to take on the additional traffic.
"This work will be carried out overnight. Once again I would ask people to bear with us as the work is carried out and thank them in advance for their co-operation and patience."
Burton MP Andrew Griffiths, who lobbied Government for the funding for the bridge work, said: "It will be great to see the work get under way in just days and, while some inconvenience is inevitable, it is important that we all remember the long-term benefits this investment will bring."
In January repair work will begin on Burton Bridge. This will include strengthening, resurfacing and upgrading gullies to help prevent surface water flooding. During the Burton Bridge works, the route will be closed to all traffic which will be diverted via the revamped St Peter’s Bridge.
Details for the St Peter’s Bridge works diversion are as follows:
For vehicles travelling east, the diversion route will be via A5189 Orchard Street, Evershed Way, Shobnall Road, A5121 Wellington Street, Waterloo Street, Byrkley Street, Derby Street, A511 Horninglow Street, Wetmore Road, Bridge Street (Burton Bridge) and A444 Stapenhill Road.
For vehicles travelling west the diversion route will be via A444 Stapenhill Road, A511 Bridge Street (Burton Bridge), Horninglow Street, A5121 Derby Street, Borough Road, Wellington Street, A5189 Shobnall Road, Evershed Way and Orchard Street.
Traffic management will take place in the listed areas from 7.30pm onwards and are expected to finish at around 6am the following mornings.
