More major roads to close for utility work

After four weeks of diversions, Forest Road is set to finally reopen later today after cable upgrades were finished, but in a week another section of the busy road is set to shut for more electrical work.

Meanwhile, those going into Town yesterday had an unexpected surprise as temporary traffic lights were installed on Les Banques to allow Guernsey Electricity to deal with a fault.

On Monday the utility will be closing Prince Albert Road for five weeks to upgrade high voltage cables.

Electricity continues to work in the Grange, which is set to be closed for another month.

The company was approached for comment about whether this winter was busier than previous years, but did not respond in time for publication.

The road between Le Chene traffic lights and Forest Stores has been shut since 12 February to allow Guernsey Electricity to carry out cable upgrading.

The next stage in the infrastructure update will see nearby Chemin Le Roi closed from Monday through to next Friday, before a return to Forest Road from Saturday 16 March through to Friday 22 March, but this time on the St Peter Port side of Le Chene traffic lights.

Guernsey Electricity head of distribution Mike Lloyd said that other utilities would also be working in the area during this period with the aim of preventing future closures.

‘Work on improving the electricity infrastructure in Le Bourg has progressed to schedule and we expect this to be completed by this Saturday as planned,’ he said.

The roadworks had meant a three-mile diversion for anyone heading from St Peter Port to the airport and local businesses have said they have seen a drop in revenue.

Deerhound general manager Rob Kerslake-Smith, said normal trade had dropped off over the last month, but islanders had still struggled through the diversions for events such as ‘pie night’ and the carvery.

‘The first week wasn’t too bad, and GE were good at keeping us updated,’ he said.

But he added they had issues with customers getting confused by the diversions after the road passing the Little Chapel was shut when a culvert under the road collapsed.

‘We had customers ringing up unsure of how to get to us,’ he said.

‘It’s really good it’s all going to be cleared away before Mothers Day on Sunday as we have a lot of bookings. Hopefully there will be clearer signs on the next road works which don’t have such a major diversion.’

Forest Stores co-owner Keith Bienvenu said the road reopening would be very welcome news.

‘It has had quite a large impact on our business and significantly cuts the people coming in through the door, as they have to go two or three extra miles,’ he said.

‘Most of our regular shoppers have kept coming but we have lost the passing trade.’

But Mr Bienvenu paid tribute to the workers from Guernsey Electricity.

‘Give them their due they have been working really hard,’ he said.

‘They haven’t had the best of the weather, but you never see an empty trench and no one working.’

*Copy updated to change dates on the Prince Albert Road closure.