THE FINAL phase of essential work to reduce the risk of flooding in Upton will begin next week.
Work on phase three of raising the A4104 in town will begin on Monday and is expected to be completed by early spring next year.
Stream-carrying tunnels of different sizes will be installed under the road to help speed up the drainage of water during any flooding.
The road on this stretch of the A4104 will then be raised, resurfaced and relined.
Temporary traffic lights will be in place and the two-way system will be in use for the majority of time during the works.
However, they will only be required between a much shorter stretch of the road than for the previous two phases.
Phases one and two had been completed ahead of schedule, with work on the final phase held off by Worcestershire County Council to ensure traffic flow was kept as smooth as possible during the popular festival activities taking place in the summer.
Coun Tony Miller, cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, said: “It’s great to hear the festival season has been a big success for the area this year and I’m glad we could do our part by pausing works during this busy period to minimise any traffic disruption.
“Work now needs to continue to ensure the final part of the scheme to reduce the likelihood of flooding can be delivered as soon as possible.”
Phases one and two of the scheme saw the installation of a new dedicated right-hand turn into the marina, new wider footpaths and upgraded street lighting as well as a newly resurfaced and white-lined stretch of raised road.
The flood alleviation scheme in Upton forms part of a programme of projects delivered by the county council to reduce the risk of flooding on key sections of the highway network throughout Worcestershire.
The main aim being to keep residents and businesses moving during flooding and keep Worcestershire ‘Open for Business’.
In 2007, Upton was so badly hit by flooding it had been reduced to an island.
More recently in 2014 the A4104 had to be closed for several days due to flooding and the only way to access Upton was by boat or army truck.
