Yahoo News Three months of Torpoint Ferry delays among latest Plymouth roadworks
A 12 week project to refurbish the traffic light gantries at the Torpoint ferry is due to begin today. The work, which is being funded by Tamar Crossings and Cornwall Council, will be carried out in two phases with a break during the school summer holiday period.
The steel gantries, which span the queuing lanes over the A374 at Torpoint and the traffic marshalling area at Devonport, contain the equipment and traffic lights used to control and monitor traffic into the queuing lanes and then subsequently onto the ferry slipways on both sides of the river.
Following a survey which found that extensive areas of the protective topcoat on each structure were severely weathered, it was decided to recoat the gantries at the first available opportunity to minimise the risk of corrosion and maximise the life of the structure.
Read More
The work can only be carried out during fair weather due to the surface preparation and curing requirements of the topcoats. Following consultation with key partners it was agreed to begin work after Tamar II returns from its refit to provide a three-ferry service to minimise disruption. This is currently planned for 19 June.
Preliminary works will be carried out from Monday, 17 June, with the contractors expected on site later in the week once the three ferry service is in place.
The first two weeks of each phase will involve the introduction of the traffic management measures and the removal of equipment from each of the gantries. All equipment will be inspected, serviced or, where applicable, replaced.
Work will then take place to prepare and recoat the structural surfaces, rehouse cables and return the equipment before the power is reconnected. Following final checks, inspections and testing of systems, the lane restrictions will be lifted and the gantries will return to full operation.
The first phase – Devonport Gantries – will take place between 17 June and 26 July 2024. There will be restricted queuing capacity for the full period as designated queuing lanes will be closed to provide access and ensure safe working areas for contractors operating mobile elevated work platforms.
Traffic signals will not be in operation during the works and traffic will be managed manually by ferry staff. This will involve marshalling staff sited at the front and rear of queuing lanes to direct traffic and co-ordinate call forward for loading to each of the ferries.
Andrew Vallance, from Tamar Crossings, said: “Whilst we recognise that the reduction in queuing capacity in the lanes is likely to create increased congestion in the immediate vicinity of the works, and potentially impact on the wider local road network at certain times, these measures are essential to provide access for the works and manage the safety of the public.
“We will be working closely with contractors and key stakeholders, including Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council and Torpoint Town Council, transport providers and emergency services throughout the project to keep disruption to a minimum.”
This phase is not anticipated to impact on traffic at Torpoint. The second phase – Torpoint Gantries – is currently programmed to take place between 4 September and 11 October. Traffic will also be managed manually throughout the whole of this phase and lane queuing capacity will be severely restricted.
Plymouth City Council has helpfully put out a list of roadworks that will be taking place across the city over the next week. The council is responsible for coordinating works carried out by utility companies, developers and other organisations as well as their own repair, maintenance and improvement works.
They maintain all public roads in Plymouth except the A38, which is managed by National Highways on behalf of the Department for Transport.
“We know there's no good time to close roads, especially on busy routes and we do everything we can to co-ordinate planned works and minimise their impact on our transport network,” a City Council spokesman said.
The following roadworks are taking place in Plymouth between Monday 17 and Saturday 22 June.
STARTING THIS WEEK
Tavistock Road | Sunday 16 to Thursday 20 June (four nights) Alternating lane closures, inbound and outbound at Boniface Lane junction, 7pm to 6am Drainage survey works Greenlight Highways |
Alice Street | Monday 17 June to Friday 12 July Road closed from Alice Lane to Octagon Street, 24 hours a day Gas main works Wales and West Utilities |
Anstis Street | Monday 17 June to Friday 12 July Road closed from Octagon Street to Alice Lane, 24 hours a day Gas main works Wales and West Utilities |
Barne Road (eastbound) | Monday 17 to Sunday 30 June Road closed from Coledrenick Street to Wolseley Road, 24 hours a day Footway reconstruction works Plymouth City Council |
Billacombe Road (inbound) | Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 June One lane closed on approach to Howard Road junction, 7pm to 11.30pm Frame and cover repairs BT |
Culver Way/Widey Lane | Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 June (two nights, rescheduled) Rolling two-way signals from Charfield Drive to Westcott Close, 7pm to 6am Lining Plymouth City Council |
Dark Street Lane | Monday 17 to Friday 21 June Three-way signals at Underwood Road junction, 24 hours a day Drainage works Plymouth City Council |
Ferry Road | Monday 17 June to Wednesday 17 July No signals on Torpoint Ferry loading lanes (traffic directed by ferry staff), 24 hours a day Tamar Crossings |
Grassendale Avenue | Monday 17 to Friday 28 June Road closed outside number 8, 24 hours a day Drainage works Steve Hoskins Ltd |
Keswick Crescent | Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 June Two-way signals outside number 42, 9.30am to 3.30pm Bus shelter works JC Decaux |
Market Road | Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 June (two nights) Road closed from Ridgeway to Underwood Road, 7pm to 6am Telecoms works BT |
Mount Gould Road | Monday 17 to Friday 21 June Two-way signals outside Mount Gould Hospital, 9.30am to 3.30pm Bus shelter works JC Decaux |
Octagon Street | Monday 17 June to Friday 12 July Four-way signals at King Street/Anstis Street junction, 24 hours a day Gas main works Wales and West Utilities |
Ringmore Way | Monday 17 June to Monday 1 July Rolling multi-way signals from Branscombe Gardens to Shaldon Crescent, 24 hours a day Gas main works Wales and West Utilities |
Ringmore Way (northbound) | Monday 17 June to Monday 1 July Road closed from Crownhill Road to number 90, 24 hours a day Gas main works Wales and West Utilities |
Tavistock Road | Monday 17 to Saturday 22 June (five nights) Alternating lane closures, inbound and outbound from Sendalls Way to William Prance Road, 7pm to 6am Ducting Hooke Highways |
Mannamead Road/Outland Road | Tuesday 18 June Westbound slip from Mannamead Road to Outland Road closed, 7pm to 10pm Patch repairs Plymouth City Council |
Victoria Road | Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 June No left turn onto A38 slip (access maintained from the roundabout), 9.30am to 3pm Leak repairs South West Water |
Budshead Road (eastbound) | Wednesday 19 to Thursday 20 June (one night) One lane closed on approach to Budshead Way roundabout, 6.30pm to 7am Frame and cover works South West Water |
Budshead Way (westbound) | Tuesday 18 June One lane closed from end of Tavistock Road off-slip to just after roundabout (all access maintained), 7pm to 10pm Street lighting works Plymouth City Council |
Crownhill Road (eastbound) | Tuesday 18 June One lane closed on flyover, 7pm to 10pm Street lighting works Plymouth City Council |
Ham Drive | Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 June Two-way signals outside Pennycross Primary School, 9.30am to 3pm Bus shelter works Clear Channel |
Outland Road (outbound) | Wednesday 19 June One lane closed outside numbers 51 to 61, 7pm to 10pm Patch repairs Plymouth City Council |
Dale Road | Thursday 20 and Friday 21 June Three-way signals at Kingsley Road junction, 9.30am to 3.30pm (manually controlled) Sewer pipe cleaning South West Water |
Drunken Bridge Hill | Thursday 20 June to Wednesday 10 July Road closed between Underwood Road and Copse Road, 24 hours a day Drainage works Plymouth City Council |
Great Berry Road | Thursday 20 to Tuesday 25 June Road closed from Tavistock Road to Berry Head Gardens (no work Friday or Saturday nights), 7pm to 6am Drainage survey works Greenlight Highways |
Miller Way | Thursday 20 to Monday 24 June Two-way signals outside number 370, 9.30am to 3.30pm Bus shelter works JC Decaux |
Outland Road (inbound) | Thursday 20 June One lane closed on approach to Torr Lane, 7pm to 11pm Traffic loop re-cut SWARCO |
Plymouth Road (eastbound) | Thursday 20 to Monday 24 June One lane closed at Woodford Avenue junction, 9.30am to 3.30pm (manually controlled) Bus shelter works JC Decaux |
Radford Park Road | Thursday 20 and Friday 21 June Three-way signals at Gower Ridge Road junction, 9.30am to 3.30pm (manually controlled) Sewer pipe cleaning South West Water |
Ridgeway | Thursday 20 June One lane closed (no right turn into George Lane), 7pm to 10pm Patch repairs Plymouth City Council |
Staddon Lane | Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 June (two nights) Road closed from golf club to Jennycliff Lane, 8pm to 6am Lining works Plymouth City Council |
Tavistock Road (inbound) | Thursday 20 to Tuesday 25 June Alternating lane closures at Great Berry Road junction (no work Friday or Saturday nights), 7pm to 6am Drainage survey works Greenlight Highways |
Plymstock Road | Friday 21 to Tuesday 25 June Two-way signals outside number 96, 9am to 3pm Meter installation South West Water |
Severn Place | Friday 21 June Multi-way signals at Torridge Way junction, 10am to 3.30pm Telecoms works EE Ltd |
CURRENT/ONGOING WORKS | |
Clittaford Road | Until Monday 17 June Two-way signals outside number 151, 9.30am to 3.30pm Bus shelter works JC Decaux |
Colin Campbell Court | Until Sunday 1 December Road closed at rear of Stroll on Baby, 24 hours a day Works for new community diagnostic centre DA Giles Ltd |
Goosewell Road | Until Friday 30 August Rolling multi-way signals from Furzehatt Road to side of 186 Holmwood Avenue, 24 hours a day Gas main works Wales and West Utilities |
Grand Hotel Road | Until Sunday 30 June Road closed, 24 hours a day Scaffolding works Apex Scaffolding |
High Street | Until Friday 21 June Two-way signals outside primary school, 9am to 3pm New supply National Grid |
Laira Rail Bridge | Until Friday 19 November Footway/cycleway closed, 24 hours a day Remedial works Plymouth City Council |
New George Street | Until Friday 4 October Road closed between Old Town Street and Tesco Metro, 24 hours a day City Centre Improvement Scheme Morgan Sindall |
New Street (Barbican) | Until Friday 26 July Road closed, 24 hours a day Shopfront repairs Penquite Construction |
Old Town Street | Until Friday 4 October Road closed, 24 hours a day City Centre Improvement Scheme Morgan Sindall |
Phoenix Street (southbound) | Until Saturday 30 November Road closed from Sawrey Street to Millbay Road, 24 hours a day Remodelling ISG Construction Ltd |
Plymouth Road (outbound) | Until Wednesday 19 June Alternating lane closures near Great Woodford Drive junction, 24 hours a day Drainage works Plymouth City Council |
Savage Road | Until Saturday 29 June Road closed between Kelly Close and Talbot Gardens, 24 hours a day Regeneration works Fred Champion Groundworks Ltd |
Tavistock Road (inbound) | Until Friday 28 June Bus lane closed from opposite Sendalls Way to William Prance Road, 24 hours a day (temporary bus stop in place) Ducting and access works Hooke Highways |
The Hoe | Until Sunday 16 June Road closures, between 1pm and midnight Cuffee and Taylor |
Trelawney Place (outbound) | Until Wednesday 19 June (extended) Bus lane restrictions suspended from Wolseley Road to number 2, 24 hours a day Temporary taxi rank for St Budeaux Interchange scheme Plymouth City Council |
Wolseley Road (inbound) | Until Wednesday 19 June (extended) Alternating lane and bus lane closures from Trelawney Place to Fletemoor Road (temporary stops in place), 24 hours a day St Budeaux Interchange scheme Plymouth City Council |
View all current and proposed works on the network on our roadworks map.
