A BUSY Wirral trunk road closed for emergency sewer repairs could open earlier than expected.

The main road connecting Hoylake to West Kirby closed on Tuesday, April 15 to allow urgent repairs to a collapsed sewer drain.

Meols Drive is shut from the roundabout at Kings Gap in Hoylake to its junction with Morpeth Road.

It was expected to remain that way for at least two weeks but United Utilities have today confirmed that work has been carried out faster than expected and motorists could see the road reopen by the end of next week.

United Utilities spokesman Polly Rourke apologised for problems caused by the closure – which has seen traffic diverted via Black Horse Hill, Frankby Road, Pump Lane, Heron Road and vice versa.

The diversion route is approximately seven miles long - about 17 minutes' travel time.

Ms Rourke said: “Our contractors have pulled out all the stops and expect to have all the repairs completed and the road sub-structure back in place by Saturday.

“This means we should be able to reopen the road earlier than expected towards the end of next week.

“We’re really sorry to people for the inconvenience our work is causing and we are working as fast as possible.”

Once the concrete sub-surface is poured on Saturday, it will need to be left for a couple of days before contractors can reinstate the final road surface.

Ms Rourke added: “There will not be much activity on site on Sunday and Monday. There’s no way to speed this natural curing process up unfortunately.

“We’d like to thank people for bearing with us because we know what a pain the diversion must be.”

The repairs follow detection of large depressions in the carriageway.
It is not possible to carry out the work one lane at a time as the sewer runs beneath the centre of the road.

Wirral Council instructed United Utilities to complete the urgent work at the earliest opportunity to avoid any conflict with preparations for the Open Golf Championship in July.