An extensive sewer upgrade in Burnham has met its six-week deadline for completion before the school half term break after Wessex Water delivered on its pledge to complete the work in half the time originally scheduled.
A section of the B3140 in the Somerset town reopened to traffic on Friday 11 February after a project to replace ageing sewer pipes, which got under way in early January, was completed to ensure the impact on the local community and tourism sector in the area was minimised as much as possible.
The upgrade was originally due to conclude after 12 weeks in April - after listening to the concerns of residents and businesses, Wessex Water redrafted their plans and employed innovative techniques such as vacuum excavation and lengthened working hours to allow the scheme to be finished in six weeks.
A Wessex Water spokesperson said:
“We’re pleased that we have been able to complete what was an extensive piece of work to prolong the life of this sewer and get this important road back open for the community and local business as quickly as possible.
“Our teams have worked long days, often under floodlights and at weekends, to complete this project and keep it to a tight schedule.
“They also had to work around a gas main on the same route and within an enclosed space due to the installation of sound barriers to reduce the effect on the surrounding area.”
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