Halesowen roads to be closed for £450k water main work
A £450,000 project to replace ageing water mains in part of Halesowen will swing into action at the end of the month, leading to road closures later in the summer.
South Staffs Water has apologised to residents in the Beecher Road area of Cradley for the likely disruption during the work, set to start on June 24. It says the scheme will reduce the risk of bursts and interruption of water supplies for more than 750 households in the Beecher Road area of Cradley.
Traffic lights will be used on Colman Hill, off Drews Holloway, for two weeks from August 7.
And the residential street of Tanhouse Lane and part of Chapel House Lane will be closed for three weeks from August 26 as the work progresses.
Wedding photographer John Cartwright, who lives in Tanhouse Lane, where he also runs his business, said: "We welcome the work, which obviously needs to be done to protect our future water supplies.
"We'll live with the disruption for a while, although it shouldn't cause any problems for my business."
The scheme will see cast iron mains, some as much as 80 years old, being replaced and the work is expected to last until the end of October.
People affected by the first phase of the work will soon receive more details from South Staffs Water and those on the Beecher Road housing estate will get further information before the second phase begins.
Much of the work has been timed to take place during the school holidays to keep disruption to a minimum.
Dudley Councillor Judy Foster, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "This essential work is being delivered by South Staffs Water for the benefit of their Halesowen customers.
"Dudley Council has agreed that the work should be delivered over the summer in order to take advantage of the summer holidays and reduced traffic flow.
"We hope that local residents will bear with South Staffs Water while this beneficial £450,000 project takes place."
Rachel Barber, South Staffs Water's customer services director said: "We apologise to residents and motorists for the disruption this is likely to cause.
"However, the work is necessary in order to complete a mains replacement scheme and we thank everyone for their patience while the work is being carried out."
