A46 closure: bad news for Whiteshill and Randwick

See my email of concern to Highways and Strategic teams below.

Photo: buses passing on a wider part of Whiteshills narrow roads

Background: The decision was taken last Friday to close the A46 at Salmon Springs just to the north of Stroud. Some of the surrounding land has slipped and the road has significant and ongoing movement - a further 25mm over that weekend. Major subsidence has occurred and large cracks are evident in the road surface, the road also has high pressure water mains, gas mains and fibre optic telecommunication cables running through it. The current deterioration of the road and the risk of significant utility damage meant that it was no longer safe for the public to use the road - risks being a possible road traffic accident, live traffic accelerating the slip and/or risk of rupture of gas or water mains.

Read story in Citizen here.

Special diversion signing had to be manufactured at short notice and has been put out which details the location of the problem (see below details). Meanwhile survey and geotechnical teams are on site at present investigating the cause with the aim of designing an appropriate solution. The cost of the solution is already expected to run into hundreds of thousands of pounds and require the road to be closed to all traffic for a number of months.

All this is bad news indeed for Whiteshill as traffic increases on our main road and narrow lanes: last time the A46 closed the road became a nightmare. Already I have an email from the Parish Chair John Rogers reporting a minor accident outside his home on that road. I fear the massive increase in traffic will be seriously detrimental to Whiteshill and indeed Randwick.

Here's my email to Highways and others:

I have been away this week but welcome the update sent around re A46 and the diversion signage. I note that a suggestion was made to route some traffic through Whiteshill. I hope this has been well and truly dismissed. Last time the A46 closed Whiteshill in the rush hour was likened to the M5 by residents: already I am told traffic has increased significantly as cars use the route as an unofficial diversion: one minor accident was also witnessed last week on the Main Road. In the light of the repair time looking set to run to months I am wondering if any additional measures can be taken to restrict traffic or at least the speed of traffic through Whiteshill? And indeed other areas which face this increase in traffic? Is there perhaps a case for working for reduced bus fares to encourage less cars on those routes?! I am particularly concerned that when the school in Whiteshill reopens we have a recipe for disaster. All the best - Philip

Diversion details: the signed diversion is via the A419, A38, and then via Horsepools Hill to Pitchcombe, or for motorists travelling further afield, around the Gloucester ring road to Cheltenham. Highways have been surveying the route this week, and are aiming to get some more specific signs put up, especially to help long distance travellers with their onward journey. It is apparently a very technical route in terms of signing, and they are looking at diverting the through 'non-local' traffic around the problem using the more strategic routes.