Main road to airport set to close for four weeks
The main road to the airport will be closed for four weeks, with a three-mile diversion.
The closures are taking place so that Guernsey Electricity can carry out cabling upgrades and will begin next Monday.
It is due to finish on 8 March.
The works will take place from Le Chene traffic lights to Le Bourg at the end of Rue des Auberts which is also closed for four weeks.
Forest Stores co-owner Keith Bienvenu said there was nothing the shop could do and they would just have to put up with it.
‘Four weeks is a long time and whenever we have had roadworks before we have had a drop-off in sales,’ he said.
‘We had major one five or six years ago when they resurfaced the road.
‘There is nothing we can do but put up access signs to let people know how they can reach us, but we know some won’t make the effort.’
Mr Bienvenu said he had been aware of the forthcoming works for a few weeks.
‘Someone came in to see us and we had another phone call from someone at the company this week, so I have to say they have kept us well informed,’ he said.
Forest Methodist Church is in the middle of the roadworks. A church spokeswoman said as they understood it they would have access to the church and were not anticipating cancelling services.
‘It is unfortunate, but necessary,’ she said.
‘We understand why the work has to go ahead and look forward to working with Guernsey Electricity.’
The utility will dig a 300m trench between Rue des Auberts and La Soucique junctions and replace infrastructure connecting two nearby substations.
Guernsey Electricity head of distribution Mike Lloyd said that it fully appreciated that road closures could be inconvenient and apologised for the work.
‘This particular work is necessary in this area and our responsibility is not only to maintain the electricity network across the island, but to invest in and future-proof the area to avoid major roadworks in the future.’
Guernsey Ports head of passenger operations & aviation security, Steve Langlois, said Guernsey Ports was encouraging people to allow extra time for their journey to the airport during the road closure.
The diversion is around the northern side of the runway.
