Essential repairs to Exeter High St planned for January
Essential work to address persistent drainage and subsidence problems in Exeter’s High Street is scheduled to start as soon as January sales are over, Devon County Council has announced.
The City Centre will remain open for business and there’ll be minimal disruption while the work is done, is the message from City Centre Manager, John Harvey.
New work, to be completed before Easter will see new gullies and pipework installed along the length of the road from Queen Street to Broadgate.
Previous work to resolve 'settling' of the road and drainage problems have proven short-lived and the existing gully system is failing to adequately handle surface water, causing further damage to the road's substructure.
To be completed in phases between 16th January and Thursday 28th March, South West Highways will initially work overnight to avoid disruption during the day.
Buses will continue to run in the direction of Princesshay only, for the safety of workers on site, before finally a six week period where the road will be fully closed to allow for new drainage and gullies, and reconstruction of the road between Goldsmith Street and Broadgate.
The full closure will start mid February and Stagecoach will run an alternative route, to avoid the work.
Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the whole period.
Taking advantage of the work, and to minimise any further inconvenience to the public and businesses, Wales and West will also be replacing a gas main in the footway from Broadgate towards the NatWest bank during the same period.
Timing for the work is deliberately scheduled to fall after the rush of January sales and before the Easter holidays, to be as least disruptive as possible.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Highways and Transportation said:
"This work is absolutely essential. We’ve tried to address these long-standing problems with drainage and subsidence for some years, and with some success. However this work should really get to the bottom of the underlying problems.
"We will be doing everything we can to minimise the impact on pedestrians, businesses and local residents throughout the duration, but I should apologise in advance for an inconvenience this may cause.
John Harvey, Exeter City Centre Manager, said:
“This work to put right a problem with its roots back in the City's post-war reconstruction is critical.
"Great care is being taken over the timetabling of the work, with the aim being to minimise the impact on shoppers, visitors to the City centre.
"We're going to be delivering the work after the peak New Year sales period and before the important Easter period.
"Our recent track record on managing major utility works in the City Centre is an exemplary one, and I'll be looking for more of the same."
Local Member for St David’s and St James, Cllr Philip Brock, said:
“I am pleased that “common sense” has prevailed, and that this work will be carried out in the New Year to minimise disruption. It will be a testing time for businesses, city workers, and shoppers, but I hope everyone will understand the importance of having these essential works carried out.
