Liz Coates THE impact on motorists is expected to be “very minimal” highways officials said this week as work to beef-up South Quay enters its final phases today.

Liz Coates

THE impact on motorists is expected to be “very minimal” highways officials said this week as work to beef-up South Quay enters its final phases today.

Although Yarmouth Way and Fullers Hill suffered busy spells this week officials say switching the focus to Southgates Road in phase six will bring relief to motorists.

Project manager David Allfrey, said he regretted the inconvenience to drivers but said that overall the scheme had gone well.

Problems with Yarmouth Way this week were mainly due to slow-moving larger vehicles holding the traffic back and causing delays, he said.

“We are very pleased with the outcome. We have been able to do the work as planned and stick to the programme. It was always going to be difficult and the regret is that we have caused difficulties for people.

“On reflection it has been fairly well managed and we have responded where we could.

“By Friday we should have completed phase four and working at the weekend to complete phase five. Phase six will be on weekends in November but the impact on traffic movements will be very very minimal.

“Most of the works have been completed on the areas where it was going to have the most impact.

“I am confident that the material that has gone down has gone down very well. It is not a cheap product but it gives a long life so we should not have to go back in there for another 20 years. We are keen that we are not back causing chaos for the foreseeable future.”

Haven Bridge was opened both ways to traffic by mid afternoon last Friday with traffic getting back to normal “relatively quickly” aside from “occasional busy spells.”

The £1m scheme is aimed at strengthening the road surface to cope with the tide of heavy traffic likely to be generated by the outer harbour.

Drivers are reminded that traffic will not be able to get onto South Quay via Yarmouth Way tomorrow or Sunday and will be diverted via Nottingham Way under phase five.