Work will be starting in January to replace the shuttle traffic signals on Bridge Street in Lyme Regis.
Lyme Regis Town Council and Dorset Council highways service will be closing the A3052 Church Street/Bridge Street to enable the signal replacement and also to allow the town council to carry out repairs to the Guildhall.
The town council-owned Grade II Listed Guildhall overhangs the carriageway and the oriel window has been struck at least 6-8 times in the last 24 months and is in desperate need of repair. At the same location, Dorset Highways’ shuttle traffic signals are at their end of their maintainable life and the cabling under the road, the poles and the signal heads need replacing.
Due to the extremely narrow width of the road, the location of the work and the space required for the Guildhall scaffolding, the only way to carry out the repairs and highway maintenance is under a road closure.
The road will be closed between Monmouth Road and Cobb Gate Car Park from Tuesday 4 January 2022 to Friday 18 February 2022.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “Working together under one road closure for the two projects will minimise the considerable inconvenience for residents, and we’ve also carefully considered the timing of these works – with traffic flows typically at their lowest at the start of the year.
“As part of the signal replacement, we’re installing above-ground detection equipment which will be easier to maintain and should negate the need for a road closure for any future work on the signals.”
Pedestrian access will also be limited during the work, with access to the northern pavement only during the road closure. Buildings on the southern side will have pedestrian access from Cobb Gate Car Park via the steps and rear access to the Museum, Guildhall Town Hall, Sweet Shop and Marine Theatre.
Arrangements are being made to ensure that waste collections can continue, and bus companies will be running services via an alternative route.
First Bus will be running a revised timetable similar to what usually happens during road closures in the area.
The revised town bus service/timetable covers most of the town and it continues to get pupils to Woodroffe School.
