Road reopens early in Portesham as water mains upgrade continues
The 200-metre stretch of the B3157 has reopened two weeks early
Last updated 28th Oct 2024
A main road in South Dorset has reopened two weeks of schedule.
The 200-metre stretch of the B3157 in Portesham has been closed since late September as Wessex Water replaced ageing water mains.
Despite the closure originally being expected to last six weeks, the road has reopened on Monday after the replacement main was safely rerouted to the side of the road.
Three-way traffic lights are now operating as work to replace the pipes continues until the end of November.
Bus services have also been fully restored, with a shuttle service between Abbotsbury and Bridport ending.
A Wessex Water spokesperson said:
"We’re delighted to be able to reopen this road ahead of schedule thanks to a huge effort by our on-site team, who have worked seven days a week on the project.
"Road closures are always a last resort and, in this case, was due to the location of the existing main. However, they are now in a position to continue the project while reopening the road under traffic lights until the end of the project in November.
"We know the B3157 is an important route locally and we’d like to thank customers, businesses and Chesil Bank Parish Council who have worked closely with us to try and reduce the impact of the closure on the local area.
"The new main will help to ensure that improved water quality and a more reliable supply is in place for future years."