A ROAD in Purbeck has reopened three days early after major water mains replacement works were completed ahead of schedule. 

The B3351, Studland Road, was closed for five weeks at the end of October to relocate and replace a degrading water main, close to the village of Corfe Castle.

The work cost Wessex Water £500,000 and was scheduled to be completed on Friday, December 2.

The new pipe will be more reliable and improve water quality, to meet higher demand on the Isle of Purbeck, after the water main that was in place burst frequently over the past 10 years.

Wessex Water engineers redesigned the project to move the main out of the road and on to adjacent land, to minimise the impact of the work on the area.

Bournemouth Echo:

More than 1000m of new main has been laid, with only a small section remaining in the B3351.

Dorset Council and Wessex Water agreed for the road closure to take place away from the busy holiday summer season, during a period where the Sandbanks chain ferry was closed for maintenance, to minimise the disruption on local communities.

The project manager for Wessex Water, Louie Cosentino, said the work was needed to replace a cast iron main that was no longer suitable.

Bournemouth Echo:

“The new main is a significant step to both boosting the water quality and improving the reliability of supply for the future and moving the bulk of the pipe out of the road will hopefully reduce potential further disruption in the future,” he said.

“Along with the local authority, we worked hard to find a window for the project that would avoid disruption over a much longer period, and we thank them, as well as all residents, businesses and the communities in the area for their co-operation, patience and understanding while this essential project was carried out.”

Mr Cosentino apologised for any inconvenience that has been caused, and the company have informed local residents, businesses and the parish councils that the work has been completed.

The road is now fully open to through traffic.