Anger as A444 project to open up bridge will not be finished by summer target
ANGER has erupted as the huge A444 project to carry out works on the Bermuda bridge in Nuneaton will not be finished by the summer as planned. The project, designed to open up the Bermuda Bridge to traffic, will not be complete by the projected August deadline.
Warwickshire County Council, which is behind the project, said that the works would last 36 weeks - and would be finished by August. But the Telegraph has found out by default that this will not achieved - as there is a planned lane closure in September.
Since the end of January, the A444 into and out of town has been down to one lane as investigation works have taken place around the bridge area.
Last month, there was due to be another lane closure, but this was delayed.
It was when the Telegraph asked about this, that we found out that the project, as a whole, has hit the stumbling blocks again. “There are two overnight closures on the A444 Griff Way on 14t/15 June at 21.30 until 06.00 hrs and the 15/16 June at 21.30 until 06.00 hrs,” a Shire Hall statement read.
“This is required to change over the traffic management system from lane 1 to lane 2 and replace the barrier protection to the bridge. This is to start the removal and replacement of the bridge bearings on the centre pier north and southbound on the A444 Griff Way. “Further closures will be programmed during September/ October 2022 to complete the works under the bridge on the A444.”
One incensed ward councillor said she was not aware of the delay to the length of the project until being asked by the situation by the Telegraph. She said a ‘deep dive’ needs to take place into the project, which she says has ‘lurched from one issue to another,’
“Unfortunately I’m none the wiser on the latest closures as I’m finding out more through press contacting me than I am from the county which is something I will be addressing at the earliest opportunity,” she said.
“It was my understanding that there would only be one more overnight closure to move the lanes not two more and the traffic management would be gone by July not October. There been a month delay already due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ which at this stage in the game shouldn’t be happening.
“My suggestion now would be on completion of the works, an independent deep dive review into this whole project as it’s lurched from one issue to another with massive cost to the public purse. All for a project which from the outset was roundly rejected by the majority of people locally and I’m convinced we wouldn’t see something like this pushed through in such a way in other parts of the county.”
The Telegraph put concerns about the length of the project being delayed to the county council. At the time of publication we had not received a comment.
My suggestion now would be on completion of the works, an independent deep dive review into this whole project as it’s lurched from one issue to another