News, sport and entertainment from the Bournemouth Echo and Dorset Echo.

Bridge flood relief work to start

From the Echo, first published Monday 28th Jan 2002.

WORK on the third stage of a new harbourside walkway link in Weymouth is under way.

The overall project, which runs between Westham Bridge and Custom House Quay, began last year to provide a safer pedestrianised footway that will run alongside the harbour wall.

It is being built in conjunction with the Environment Agency's Weymouth Harbour tidal flood defence scheme and the work has been given substantial Dorset County Council cash support as part of the local transport plan.

The third stage of the walkway will create a link between the completed last stage at the Loop area off Commercial Road to Custom House Quay.

The work, which is being jointly carried out by Weymouth and Portland council's own workforce and Clancy Docwra, will involve rebuilding part of the carriageway under the Town Bridge which has been damaged by years of regular flooding.

All too often residents have seen the sea come flooding over the harbour wall during high tides, trapping the cars of unwary motorists and threatening or even flooding quayside properties.

The road at this point lies below high tide levels and one of the aims of the work is to reduce the seepage of water upwards to provide a safe, dry access along this part of the quay at all stages of the tide for both pedestrians and vehicles.

Clancy Docwra will start carriageway reconstruction on February 4. It is expected to take 12 weeks to complete the works before the summer season, to cause as little disruption as possible.

Passage and parking under the Town Bridge will be restricted while the works are being carried out.

Road closures will be in force and members of the public are being asked to avoid this area because traffic diversions will be in place.

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