Work to repair a collapsed sewer in Burnham-On-Sea looks set to be completed by the end of next week – allowing a month-long road closure to be lifted.
Wessex Water has been working for four weeks to repair the sewer in Berrow Road but following a series of excavations it was revealed that the pipe was more severely damaged than first thought.
Rather than replacing the damaged sewer, the company has now chosen to reline it using a specialist liner that is being imported from the continent.
Wessex Water spokesman Ian Drury told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Wednesday (October 19th): “We are aware of the impact that the Berrow Road closure is having on the local community and motorists and have therefore explored alternative ways to carry out the repairs.”
“By relining the sewer we will be able to complete our work sooner while at the same time extend the life of the pipe for around 100 years.”
On Thursday (20th October) work will start to insert the liner inside the sewer and, once complete, the road will be resurfaced.
Wessex Water said it would have staff working during the weekend and added that it hoped to re-open the road by the end of next week.
Mr Drury added: “We have written to local residents to apologise for the ongoing emergency repair work in Berrow Road which has taken significantly longer than expected due to the condition of the sewer.”
The firm originally said the road would be closed “for up to three weeks” following the collapse of the sewer on September 19th.
Burnham-On-Sea.com reported last month that residents of Saxondale Avenue and Golf Links Road are unhappy that large numbers of motorists who would usually use Berrow Road have been using their roads as diversion routes.
