Outland Road reopens ahead of schedule
Outland Road has reopened this morning after the early completion of sewerage works.
Outland Road closed on 8 April for six weeks to both inbound and outbound traffic between Peverell Park Road and the Esso filling station. It reopens today (Saturday 18 May), two days ahead of schedule.
The scheme involved digging down 15 feet through hard rock to reach and renew old sewers buried beneath the road surface. The road surface has now been reinstated by South West Water's contractors and a number of additional tasks are being undertaken before the road reopens tomorrow.
South West Water has been working with Plymouth City Council and its highways contractor Amey to help ensure best use was made of the Outland Road closure. Amey is currently on site resurfacing the inbound carriageway between Lyndhurst Road and Beauchamp Crescent, and the outbound carriageway between Beauchamp Crescent and Peverell Park Road, which will avoid the need to close the road again at a later date.
Earlier on in the project Wales and West Utilities was also able to make use of the road closure to undertake gas mains replacement works on Beauchamp Road.
South West Water project manager Robert Prentice said: "Despite some initial problems, such as a gas leak and having to dig through a large slab of rock which was preventing access to the old pipes, we are delighted to have finished this scheme ahead of schedule.
"We've had two gangs working 12-hour days, six days a week, to get the job done as quickly as possible and it's great news that Plymouth City Council is able to carry out its work now to avoid closing the road again at a later date.
"We'd also like to thank the people of Plymouth who have been extremely patient with us while Outland Road has been closed."
Councillor Mark Coker, the Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "We are very pleased with the progress that South West Water made in completing these essential works ahead of schedule.
"We have been collaborating with them throughout the process, and have made best use of the closure to resurface the road and avoid traffic disruption in the future, which will be of benefit to everyone who lives in or travels through the area."
