Roadworks suspended as council focuses on critical engineering

HAMPSHIRE County Council is directing all available highways resources to emergency and safety-related roadworks during the coronavirus outbreak.

This means that, once sites have been made safe, all non-essential work on road construction sites, including new schemes and planned highways maintenance works, will be temporarily suspended.

HCC deputy leader Cllr Rob Humby said: “Our primary concern is protecting the safety of residents and our workforce and their families.

“It is clear that it is very difficult for people to carry out aspects of highways work safely, away from residents, while observing ‘social distancing’ measures and working two metres apart from one another.

“We also need to consider what is essential travel at this time and prioritise emergency and safety highways works.”

The authority is working with all its contractors on measures to wind down sites for all non-essential road schemes to a point where they can be safely suspended.

Its property services team will also ensure essential maintenance and support services continue in order to keep buildings operating safely and effectively but is suspending all non-essential maintenance works until a review of activity is completed.