Busy commuter road near A6 due to re-open this month now shut …
Transport company Network Rail[1] has apologised to residents after it emerged a busy commuter road that has been shut since January will now not re-open until November. Parts of Station Road, which runs between Great Glen and Fleckney, have been closed since the start of the year so work could be carried out on a bridge.
The closures have prevented people from travelling between the Newton Lane and Kibworth Road junctions. The work was due to conclude on Tuesday, August 1[2], but it was announced earlier this month that the work had been extended until the end of August.
Network Rail told LeicestershireLive at the time that the extension was because of "unexpected delays"[3]. Now, however, it has emerged that the road will not open until Thursday, November 23.
It means the road will have been closed for 10 months by November, despite the original plan for it to be closed for just over six months. As a result, people who commonly use the road when travelling to work from villages such as Great Glen, Kibworth and Fleckney will be forced to continue to use alternative routes.
The closure has taken place because of work being carried out on a bridge that sits above a railway line. The work is part of the multi-million pound electrifying works[5] to the Midland Mainline, which is upgrading the rail route between Kettering and Wigston.
A Network Rail[6] spokesperson said: “We apologise for the extended closure facing residents and motorists wanting to use the Station Road bridge in Great Glen. Completion has been delayed due to unexpected work and additional safety features needing to be implemented, including the installation of new traffic lights.
"We are working closely with Leicestershire County Council[7] to ensure that work is completed and the bridge is reopened as soon as possible for residents and motorists. We would also like to thank residents and motorists for their continued understanding and patience whilst this project is completed.”
References
- ^ Network Rail (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ due to conclude on Tuesday, August 1 (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ told LeicestershireLive at the time that the extension was because of "unexpected delays" (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Burst pipe leads to A6 closure between Market Harborough and Kibworth Beauchamp (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ multi-million pound electrifying works (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ A Network Rail (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Leicestershire County Council (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)