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Motorists thanked for 'bearing with' but NO date given for A31 work completion

Andrew Goldman
·1-min read
Emergency drainage work on the A31 at Ringwood <i>(Image: National Highways)</i>
Emergency drainage work on the A31 at Ringwood (Image: National Highways)

TRAVEL woes on the A31 at Ringwood are to continue as drainage repair works stall.

Drivers are being advised to leave extra time for their journeys due to a lane closure on the A31 westbound between the M27 for Southampton and the A338, which has been in place since January 17.

Lane one remains closed on the A31 to allow contractors to clear flood water which continues to run off the saturated surrounding land.

Once work on the A31 is complete, the road will be fully opened but National Highways has been unable to confirm when this will be.

Bournemouth Echo: Traffic on the A31 at Ringwood
Bournemouth Echo: Traffic on the A31 at Ringwood

Traffic on the A31 at Ringwood (Image: Newsquest)

Originally thought to be a burst water main, the ongoing drainage pipe problems have been described as a “nightmare” by motorists with knock on effects across neighbouring road networks.

At peak times, delays of up to an hour have been reported.

Peter Philips, National Highways route manager said: “I would like to thank people for bearing with us while our teams have worked diligently on these flooding incidents. Aside from the volume of water on the carriageway, the low temperatures have caused the water to freeze creating a safety hazard. We expect the A31 to fully open soon.”

The Echo has further approached National Highways for clarification on how the repair work is going and when they anticipate completion.

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