DRIVERS are being urged to carefully plan their journeys as one of the main routes through the Somerset Levels will be closed more than 10 days for the second part of a water main replacement project.
The A361 will be closed to through traffic in both directions at the road bridge over the River Parrett in Burrowbridge between 8am on Monday, April 7 and 5pm on Thursday, April 17 to allow the work to take place.
The closure will see temporary connections made to the existing water main either side of the road bridge and a short section of main installed across the A361 at either end and follows a similar two-day closure for investigative work which took place last summer.
This second phase will allow Wessex Water to significantly reduce the time required for the final phase of the project.
A diversion, using the A361 (Burrow Wall), Townsend, A372 (Langport Road), into Bridgwater using Parkway, A39 (Bath Road), A38 (Broadway and Taunton Road) and then the A361 will be in place.
‘Soft closures’ will be in place in Othery and just outside Burrowbridge to remind heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) that the road is shut in Burrowbridge and allow them the chance to turn around and follow the diversion.
A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “This is the second part of a staggered project to replace the main that was installed in the 1960s, for which the sleeve designed to protect it has sustained damage, leaving the pipe at risk of further deterioration and leaks.
“Road closures are always the last resort but in this case the closure is essential due to the position of the work and the surrounding network.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and have written extensively to customers and businesses throughout the area to inform them about this investigative work.”