Statement from Torbay Council on revised plans to improve traffic flow on Dartmouth Road, Galmpton
We have agreed with contractor Wales & West Utilities to postpone the second phase of their gas pipe replacement works on Dartmouth Road. Following completion of the first phase of the works, engineering teams will be leaving the site today and we aim to have resurfacing works (to allow the road to fully reopen) complete by Wednesday 23 September – meaning the remaining second phase of the gas works will be paused until October half term.
Earlier this week we reviewed the traffic management on site and together with Wales & West Utilities agreed to make changes which resulted in improvements for road users.
Following further inspections and monitoring carried out by the Council we have jointly decided with Wales & West Utilities to postpone the next stage of the works for pedestrian safety reasons. This is due to the lack of safe pedestrian provisions between Greenway Road and Manor Vale Road.
Through efforts on site this week, the pipeline contractor has successfully been able to progress works significantly ahead of schedule, in part through the extended shift times agreed with the Council. The site will reduce further today following completion of works on the Common and this will also improve traffic flow.
However, following excavations on site and the identification of the exact location (and depth) of the existing gas main infrastructure, it would not have been possible to have continued to maintain a safe pedestrian access for pedestrians between Greenway Road and Manor Vale Road.
There will be periods of between now and the removal of Traffic Management where there is a lack of activity onsite. This is whilst materials are delivered to site for the reinstatement of the road surface. Following the completion of the reinstatement works, a period of time will be required before the new surface can be opened back for traffic (curing period).
Next steps and timescales
Wales & West Utilities will return to its planned works in Dartmouth Road during half term and the following traffic management plan will be in place from 23 October to 1 November:
- Rolling two-way traffic lights will be in place on Dartmouth Road between Manor Vale Road and Greenway Road
- Road closures on Greenway Road and Warborough Road
- Footpath closure on Dartmouth Road, pedestrian diversion route via Manor Vale Road and Greenway Road
- During this phase of work, traffic lights will be manned 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
The scheduled works will start at 4pm on Friday 23 October once the local schools have closed. The rolling traffic management will be back in place and our highways teams will work with the traffic contractor again to monitor the impact of the works.
Providing there are no engineering difficulties, the work is due to complete on 1 November, ahead of the original schedule.
During the works, Greenway Road and Warborough Road will be closed for safety reasons.
We have been working with Stagecoach South West to support ways to manage disruption to their services during the current works. Stagecoach have told us they will continue to manage the situation as best as possible for next week until the works are lifted, and will put in place alternative plans for October half term.
These changes appear to have improved traffic flows through the area. We will continue to work with the contractor and monitor the situation over the next few days.
Background to the why the works are needed
Wales & West Utilities is carrying out essential utility works to replace ageing metal gas supply pipes with modern plastic ones as part of a major safety upgrade programme.
It could not be carried out over the summer, and due to the nature of the work it cannot be done overnight because of the disturbance that would cause to nearby homes.
The traffic management is needed to keep workers and road users safe at the site.
How you can help
To help the traffic flows, please let buses pull out and you should comply with the lights to take your turn and prevent unnecessary traffic build-ups.
Allow more time for your journey, where possible travel at less busy times and consider car-sharing.
By Cllr Adam Billings
Thank you for contacting us regarding the current roadworks at Churston and the significant disruption they are causing for people travelling into and out of Brixham.
I completely understand the frustration. As you know, I live on the Brixham side of these works myself and travel across the traffic managed section for work, so I experienced the delays first hand yesterday and know just how difficult the situation has been. With effectively one main road serving Brixham, any significant works on this route are always going to have a considerable impact.
It is important to clarify that these are not Torbay Council roadworks. They are being carried out by a utility company which, as a statutory undertaker, has the legal ability to carry out works on the highway where necessary to maintain the safety and continuity of its services. Through these works Wales & West Utilities are replacing ageing metallic gas mains originally laid in the 1930s and 1940s with more durable polyethylene mains. This section of the scheme involves replacing approximately 1,000 metres of gas main and requires excavation pits at intervals along the route to insert through the old metallic main and connect the new pipework. Without this work continuity of the mains gas supply to Galmpton could not be maintained safely.
As the Highways Authority, Torbay Council can place certain requirements around when works take place and how they are managed. We do, for example, seek to avoid major works during the busiest summer period because of the additional pressure tourism places on our road network. However, we cannot prevent essential utility works indefinitely, nor can the Council simply require utility companies to carry out all works overnight and remove the traffic management every morning. Not only does the legislation not give us that power, but also due to the nature of the works, they could not be undertaken solely during night-time hours anyway. The project involves extensive excavation within the carriageway, installation of new apparatus, testing, backfilling and permanent reinstatement. These activities require excavations to remain open and protected by appropriate traffic management for extended periods while work is in progress, making it impractical to complete all operations within a single/multiple overnight working window.
Wales & West Utilities completed the Greenway Road section next to the grammar school during the summer holidays to minimise disruption to local schools. However, due to the scale of the project and restrictions on street works, it was not possible to complete the entire scheme during that period. The works have been coordinated through Torbay Council’s permit scheme and publicised by both the Council and Wales & West Utilities through direct communication with local residents and Town Council.
Major infrastructure projects of this nature inevitably do lead to increased congestion. The first day or two of major works of this nature can often be the most difficult as traffic management is adjusted in response to what is actually happening on the ground. Our priority is to get the traffic moving significantly better than it currently is while still allowing the utility company to complete the essential work safely.
The temporary traffic signals are already conditioned to be manually controlled between 06:30 and 20:00, Monday to Sunday. In addition, the adjoining side roads have been closed to avoid the need for further signal heads at these junctions, which would have increased red-light phases and caused additional disruption. However, we are working closely with our Highways team today and have been on site looking at what practical improvements can be made. A number of changes are being implemented, including changes to the traffic light cycle times at peak periods in an effort to allow more vehicles through in each phase, a reduction in the length of the traffic managed section, increased integration of the signal phasing between the Windy Corner lights and the temporary lights, a recalibration of the lights phasing at Windy Corner, etc. In addition the contractor is working longer hours to try to reduce the time these works will continue and they were for example still on site working at 7:00pm this evening.
I appreciate that none of this takes away the frustration for those who have been caught in lengthy delays. But please be assured that we recognise the particular difficulties caused when works affect the main route into and out of Brixham, and we will continue doing everything within our powers to minimise the disruption.