RESIDENTS in a Dorset town are set for an extra month of long diversion routes as emergency sewerage repairs have been extended.
Wessex Water has announced an extra month’s worth of work is needed to repair a sewer main along the B3081 Ringwood Road, the main road cutting through Verwood, close to Virginia Close.
The closure will continue to be in place until March 24 – a whole month after the initial work was scheduled to be completed on Friday, February 24.
A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “Following our emergency closure of a small section of the B3081 Ringwood Road on February 17 to repair a sewer main, our excavations revealed that other utilities’ pipework are surrounding the sewer.
Read more: Closures and diversions for B3081 Ringwood Road at Verwood
“Unfortunately this means we need to extend the road closure to the end of March to allow time to carry out the repair safely without damaging any other infrastructure, with extended working at weekends to complete the repair as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Frustration has already reached boiling point in Verwood at the diversion route in place, which takes motorists via the B3072 in Three Legged Cross.
In a public statement, Dorset Council has asked residents and motorists to “bear with” repair workers and urged them to obey diversion routes.
A spokesperson for the council added: “To add to the frustration, on the diversion route there are two burst water mains and a gas escape, which South West Water and SGN are dealing with.
“Temporary traffic lights are in place and the utility companies are working to make the repairs as quickly as possible.”
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