A series of temporary changes have been announced around the works on the A31 at Ringwood.
As part of the ongoing major A31 bridge replacement and road widening project, National Highways agreed with the local environmental health team to temporarily extend their working hours to keep on track.
This meant crews worked throughout the Bank Holiday weekend from April 30 to May 2. This was to ensure they completed the retaining walls and new supports for the bridge replacement by May 3.
Over the bank holiday, floating platforms – known as pontoons – were alsodue to be installed on the river to allow crews to access the undersides of the bridges and catch any debris during the demolition phase.
However, crews will carry out temporary Lane 1 closures of Mansfield Road between the Furlong roundabout and the Ringwood junction to allow large deliveries to enter and leave the site safely. This route is the only way to enter the Furlong car parks as well as retailers like Waitrose and Sainsbury’s via car.
These closures will take place during off-peak hours for short durations.
A National Highways spokesperson said: “Our traffic management operatives will safely cone off Lane 1 shortly before the delivery is due to arrive and will re-open the lane immediately after the vehicle has left the site.
“As this is planned for off-peak periods for specific deliveries, the frequency of this may result in less than a once per day occurrence, and we do not anticipate this creating excessive congestion on the local road network. Please note these closures will be intermittent and for short duration between now and the end of the works.”
Piling works, meanwhile, on the main A31 are “almost finished” with commencement of the bridge demolition process within touching distance.
Huge 36 metre piling rigs have been on site for a number of weeks ahead of the demolition, which will see the bridges that carry the westbound carriageway over the River Avon and Bickerley Millsteam replaced.
National Highways added: “This can be noisy, and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience while we’ve been completing this work – we’re almost finished.
“As the bridges being replaced are within an environmentally sensitive area, we can only work above the river between the start of May and the end of October.
“This work will not affect traffic on the A31, as all activities are taking place within the closed westbound section.”
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