Nailsworth road to be re-opened after accidental damage
The update comes as local business owners have reported a loss in trade.
A month-long Gloucestershire town road closure is expected to end on Wednesday after a four week delay.
The resurfacing of George Street in Nailsworth was due to be done over a couple of nights but was prolonged when a gas main was accidentally damaged.
Highways chiefs now say the gas main repairs are complete and they aim to reopen the road on Wednesday.
Nailsworth County Councillor Steve Robinson (Labour) said the work had taken an extended period of time due to continual errors.
“On the second night of tarmacking, a main gas pipe which was not at the expected depth, was damaged by machinery.
“Work then commenced to replace the large pipe lying above the old river bridge, with a number of smaller pipes.
“Following this Wales and West Gas filled the extended hole with the wrong type of concrete, so when Tarmac returned to carry out the resurfacing, the concrete broke up and it had to be replaced with new concrete and left to cure.
“The footfall to small traders and to the Morrisons store has been dramatically reduced and they are expecting compensation from Wales and West for loss of income during this month-long period.
Christo Archer, owner of Waterloo House Cocktail Bar on George Street described the street as a "ghost town" since the closure, and said he'd had to let three members of staff go due to the fall in customers.
As the work has taken longer than 28 days, it has been confirmed that business owners will be entitled to compensation from Wales & West Utilities.
A Gloucestershire County Council spokesperson said they carried out a site inspection on Tuesday after the Wales and West works. They confirmed the defective concrete has now been replaced.
“There will also be a short closure on Wednesday evening while lining works are carried out and the road will then be fully open,” a Gloucestershire County Council spokesperson said.
“We would like to thank residents and traders again for their patience and understanding during these works.”
Wales & West Utilities have not provided comment.