Number of ‘emergency’ road closures in 2023 double that of year before
The number of traffic management emergencies dealt with by Traffic & Highway Services last year was nearly double what it saw in 2022, figures released by the department have revealed.
There were 254 ‘emergency’ closures during the year among a total of 2,889 roadworks or events requiring traffic management which were coordinated by THS. Many of these were due to damage caused by Storm Ciaran, such as fallen trees or collapsed earth banks.
The planned works included many closures due to Guernsey Fibre’s upgrades and Guernsey Electricity’s power network expansion, both of which are still in progress.
Most roadworks are planned 12 to 18 months in advance, said THS lead officer Colin Le Page, while road resurfacing programmes are planned two years in advance.
Motorists are increasingly frustrated about roadworks and closures, with travel into St Peter Port sluggish in the mornings at present.
Mr Le Page said that while THS received a lot of phone calls and correspondence, some of which were complaints, it wanted to make islanders aware of what it was working on.
‘The core focus at the moment is the main centres, the routes to the main centres and the schools,’ he said.
Work is also continuing to improve road infrastructure and safety for all road users, which in 2023 saw THS managing 260 miles of roads and resurfacing more than 18 miles.
