Otley faces more roadworks disruption (From Wharfedale Observer)
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Otley faces more roadworks disruption
12:00pm Sunday 21st October 2007 in Local news By Jim Jack
MORE road disruption is heading for Otley when the final phase of a major upgrade of the town's water mains begins on Otley Bridge next month.
Yorkshire Water (YW) says the scheme should be finished well before Christmas.
YW, as part of a £10 million investment in its underground infrastructure in Wharfedale, began installing a new mains pipe along Bradford road in 2006, and refurbished the town centre's mains in April.
On Monday, November 5 the firm's contractors, Balfour Beatty Utilities Ltd, will move onto the section of Bridge Street across Otley Bridge to finish the job - and are aiming to have it done within a fortnight.
YW says the work will be done on one side of the road so traffic will still be able to cross the bridge, although it will have to be controlled.
Project manager Dave Lilley said: "Otley folk have been fantastic while we've been working in the area and, by and large, have been extremely patient.
"For that we'd like to thank the town; particularly its business community which had to endure a fair amount of disruption in the spring when crews were in the town centre.
"However, we know they are going to be sensitive to yet more roadworks so we're hoping, by giving people plenty of notice, we'll be able to keep any inconvenience to a minimum.
"At the moment, we're hoping we can complete this final section without having to put up temporary traffic lights but, regardless of what restrictions are imposed, some delays are inevitable, for which we'd like to apologise in advance.
"Most residents we've spoken to in the past have understood the work we're doing is essential but we know no-one likes sitting in traffic jams so we will be doing everything possible to keep queues as short as possible."
The news comes just after confirmation that Bradford Road, which has been closed since July 16 to allow essential repairs to a culvert, should re-open on Monday, November 12.
