Swanage town centre improvement works will be restarting on Monday.
Dorset Highways workers will be returning to Institute Road to finish around five weeks work to widen the footways – with traffic management needed to separate vehicles from the works area in place again on Monday (4 May) morning at 9am.
Institute Road will close to traffic and the one-way flow on Kings Road East will be reversed to ensure drivers can still access the heart of the town. High Street will become two-way with the help of temporary signals and Stafford Road will temporarily become one-way.
Work will first continue to finish the western pavement (town side) and take a few days, weather dependent, and be followed with around five weeks work to widen the eastern pavement (beach side) and improve drainage in the area.
Cllr Gary Suttle, elected member for Swanage, said: “Although residents are still coming into the town centre as part of their daily exercise or to pick up food and other essential goods, there will be far fewer pedestrians around at the moment – making this an ideal time to complete these enhancement works.
“We want to get this work finished to ensure the best start for Swanage businesses when they are able to reopen. And to be able to welcome the return of visitors with a smart new shopping experience.”
Work in Swanage town centre started in January but were cut short, with the site closed down from Monday 23 March when social distancing was introduced by the Government.
Guidance for construction activity has since been updated with the Department for Transport advising that it can continue where it fits with both the current Public Health England requirements and in accordance with industry safety guidance.
Working methods in Swanage have been revised to reduce the number of staff on site to ensure social distancing requirements can be maintained. Additional safety measures are also being taken to ensure the health and safety of workers:
- single person vehicle movements both to and from site
- daily toolbox talks to share the latest safe working guidance and COVID-19 updates
- daily health screening involving temperature checks and general well-being
- no high-risk workers on site
Cllr Bill Trite, elected member for Swanage, added: “Please help protect our community and workforce by respecting social distancing recommendations around the works area.”
Dorset Council and Swanage Town Council have been working together for a number of years to develop a scheme that balances the needs of businesses, residents and visitors to the town, with the options discussed at drop-in sessions during June 2018.
The work will eradicate long-running safety concerns of heavy vehicles mounting busy pavements to pass vehicles in the loading bay by widening pavements, raising the pavements to full height and removing the loading bay. New loading bays will be introduced at either end of Institute Road.
The Institute Road improvements are costing around £450,000 and are being funded by Dorset Council, Swanage Town Council and Section 106 money from developers.
