Fears emerge 20-week roadworks on major Sheffield road could over-run, amid concerns for businesses
Concerns raised over progress of works as businesses suffer
Concerns have been raised over the progress of major roadworks on a major Sheffield road, as businesses count the cost.
Work began late in July on the project in Crookes, which sees engineers from Cadent replacing 75-year-old gas pipes for new ones which conform to modern requirements along its main road.
But nearly four weeks later, there are concerns that work is over-running, with businesses reporting concerns over how it is affecting them.
Work started near Springvale Road on July 27. Now it has only reached the Punchbowl pub. It is understood that the workmen have faced engineering challenges.
But this weekend, legal orders to ban parking on bays near The Ball pub, are due to come into effect. They are intended to allow work to be carried out. However the work is no where near reaching that point in the road.
Crookes Sheffield ward councillors, Coun Ruth Milson and Coun Minesh Parekh, and Sheffield Hallam MP Olivia Blake, say they have had local businesses contacting them to raise concerns. All three visited the area on Thursday to speak to traders
It is understood some are reported their takings being hit by as much as 40 per cent.
Coun Milsom said: “It started at Springvale Road and the impact that it’s having (is being felt) further down the street already as we’ve got mistiming of where the work is actually taking place and where parking restrictions are starting to be implemented.
“At the moment there is mistiming and it’s causing a lot of confusion, and a lot of very understandable upset and disruption for businesses and people visiting those businesses.”
She said some businesses were struggling to find anyone to speak to from Cadent when they have problems with deliveries because of the works.
Now the politicians are calling on Cadent to provide clarity for businesses and residents, provide a single point of contact to help businesses, and to sort out their parking suspension arrangements.
They feel the work is well behind schedule.
There are also concerns that temporary traffic lights are causing chaos, because there is a pedestrian crossing at the end of them. It means that motorists are sometimes unable to go through the temporary lights area because the pedestrian lights have changed to red, meaning traffic is still in the roadworks area.
The Star has contacted Cadent for comment and an update on their timescale for the work.