Highway improvement work is continuing in Gillingham as part of the multi-million-pound transport overhaul in the town.
Le Neubourg Way
Following night work to resurface Le Neubourg Way at the end of August, the new Waitrose Junction has been commissioned.
Vegetation
The project team has been working with the council’s Natural Environment Team discussing the right seed mix and timing of sowing along the bare verges.
Unfortunately, well-meaning seeding of land at the Waitrose junction by residents has had to be removed – the species planted is not suitable for highway verges as it can grow up to 1.2m high which obscures visibility for pedestrians and drivers, causing safety issues.
We need to ensure all of this has been removed before work can start on the official landscaping works.
Station Road
Work is going well with the pavement widening set to finish at the start of October. The final phase of work will see a ‘paving effect’ imprinted into the new asphalt – this method reduces trip hazards and is easier to maintain compared to laying traditional slabs but keeps the look and feel of the town’s environment.
Newbury
Work to improve the pedestrian and cycling facilities at the roundabout are nearly finished. In early October, the new toucan crossing on Le Neubourg Way will be up and running and the raised table on High Street will be imprinted with a paving effect – completing works at this junction.
New Road/Shaftesbury Road
Work to demolish The Old Manse has been delayed after asbestos was found in the soffit boards, which earlier surveys did not pick up. We’re working in accordance with HSE guidelines for the removal, and disposal, of this.
Unfortunately, because of the location of this hazardous material, we are limited as to what work can be carried out to demolish the building without disturbing the substance.
Demolition work will now get underway from 28 September, with the junction improvements starting on 2 November and taking around 12 weeks to complete.
As part of the preparation for the junction works at New Road/Shaftesbury Road, a highway drainage survey was carried out on New Road and found that the drainage system needs replacing.
As much as possible will be done at the same time as the junction works but one section – to the west of Prospect Close – will have to be done after the junction work is finished. This section will take around four weeks to repair.
Running red lights
A number of drivers are jumping the red light at the temporary traffic signals set up at the junction which is causing an issue with the sequencing of the lights and adding to the delay, as the system has to reset the phasing each time this happens.
We appreciate that temporary signals cause delays, but they are in place for the safety of everyone. Please be patient – the more you jump the light, the longer you wait!
March 2021
We are currently on track for the overall scheme to be finished by the end of March.
The funding is being used to enhance key junctions through Gillingham, improve cycle links to the train station and will fund the design of the Enmore Green Link Road.
