Work on the bridges at junction nine of the M27 motorway has been delayed again and now will not be finished until at least the end of January next year.
Completion of roadworks on M27 junction nine delayed again
Earlier this month the Highways Agency was forced to admit that work on the bridges at the Park Gate and Whiteley junction – which it said would be finished by September – would not be finished until the end of the year.
Now it has said that the work will be delayed by a further month and not be finished until the end of January 2014 at the earliest.
That means the 50mph speed limit and average speed cameras will also remain in place until after Christmas and New Year.
Steve Cobb, Highways Agency Structures Manager, said: “Work to replace the bridge piers is progressing; however we have found a number of additional tasks are required.
“We have carefully considered how best to complete this extra work, and concluded that the most efficient way for all is to carry on, rather than completing this phase and then returning at a later date.
“As a result, it is currently anticipated that construction work will now be completed by the end of January 2014 instead of September 2013.
“We apologise for the delay and thank road users for their co-operation while we carry out these essential repairs.”
As work has progressed the construction team discovered that the original plans of the piers did not match the situation on the ground, meaning extra work was required to complete the scheme.
Also, detailed assessments of the beams revealed that more extensive repairs than originally anticipated were required.
Narrow lanes, a 50mph speed limit and a free recovery service have been in place since April 2013, following preparation work which included resurfacing the hard shoulder to allow traffic to use it during the main construction.