Roadworks frustrating Kingsbridge locals

Anger as town is hit by ‘Pandora’s Box’ of problems

Angry traders in Kingsbridge say they are ‘appalled’ after hearing how roadworks in the centre of town have opened a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of problems and could go on for months.

Devon County Council has confirmed that a new 45-metre-long culvert will need to be installed in Fore Street to replace the existing one, and even if things go smoothly it could be another 20 weeks before the job is done.

South Hams Chamber chair Samantha Dennis said a detailed plan should have drawn up sooner, and the chamber and the town council had been left to ‘pick up the pieces’ 

The road has been closed since the culvert collapse was discovered in January, with a large hole found below.

The county council says its latest site investigations have highlighted complex issues which need to be resolved, but it cannot say exactly how long the scheme will take to complete due to the amount of existing services under the road.

An area around the collapse needs to be isolated from the incoming tides and two underground watercourses with a series of pumps.

Now a deep excavation of up to two and a half metres below road level is needed for the new culvert, and some of it will need to be excavated by hand due to the volume and position of services.

Cllr Dan Thomas (Lib Dem, South Brent and Yealmpton) said: “The existing culvert is in such poor condition that it needs to be completely replaced, otherwise it could lead to more voids under the road which would see utility services and the road collapsing into the culvert.

“What was initially thought to be a collapsed section of culvert has opened a Pandora’s box of issues beneath Fore Street. We’re sorry for the ongoing disruption but with so many services to contend with and to work around, this project is anything but straightforward.

“Sadly, it’s taking longer than anyone would have wanted but please bear with us. Above all else we must take great care to ensure that work is carried out without accidentally creating any additional problems, but the installation of a new culvert is essential.

“The excavation will be an extremely complex operation which has been likened to threading a needle due to the sheer quantity of services in the area. At this stage it’s impossible to provide an accurate timeframe for how long this work will take.

“We’re sorry that it means disruption will be ongoing. Even if three to four metres of culvert was installed per week, allowing for connections, service diversions, and highway reinstatement, we’re possibly looking at least a further 20 weeks on site.”

Temporary traffic lights are due to be removed for the Easter weekend and then reinstated on Tuesday morning.

Ms Dennis said she was appalled at the way the project had been handled.

“Everyone accepts this is a complex job, but it was always going to be,” she said. “Why wasn’t a detailed plan drawn up months ago? The news that this might not be completed until the summer holidays is unacceptable.  

“Why weren’t measures put in place to mitigate the impact this would have on residents and businesses? Why weren’t realistic timescales communicated earlier?

“It’s time for Devon County Council and those elected to represent this town as district and county councillors, to sort this mess out. Get the job done, and as soon as possible, before the town we all love is damaged for good.”