A dual carriageway in Bedford that has been undergoing extensive road works since February 2023, is expected to be fully reopened to traffic this Friday (15 December).
The 11-month Paula Radcliffe Way project involved repairs to the road surface, drainage system, road barriers and bridges.
Much to the dismay of local motorists, the completion of the works faced a delay following further testing and inspections that led to the entire crash barrier system needing to be replaced rather than repaired, as was previously hoped.
Bedford Borough Council extended apologies for any inconvenience caused by this delay and said “[it] would like to assure the community that every effort has been made to expedite the completion of the project”.
Jim Weir, portfolio holder for environment, highways and transport at Bedford Borough Council, said: “The completion of these essential works marks a significant milestone for our community.
“We understand that the construction period has caused inconvenience for many, and we sincerely appreciate the patience and cooperation of residents, businesses, and road users throughout this process.
“The Council acknowledges the understanding and resilience of the community during the construction period and wishes to extend its gratitude to all those who were affected by the necessary road closures and diversions.
“As with all projects of this size, the Council will be reviewing the entire project to identify any learning opportunities for future works.”
Bedford Borough Council says it is committed to maintaining and improving the infrastructure that supports the local community and the full 2023-24 capital maintenance programme can be found on the council website here.
The list of carriageway resurfacing sites is compiled using a scoring matrix based on a number of measurable criteria, to ensure that the roads in the worst condition are prioritised.
Each road in the Bedford Borough road network is assessed and scored on an annual basis.
