Wirral council will resume planned maintenance and construction works on the highway from today. 

The authority says that the work will go ahead in an effort to minimise disruption to residents and ensure that delivering key projects will help inject work into the local economy.

In line with recent guidance from the government and the Transport Minister for Roads, Buses and Places the council started site surveys and investigations on Monday, May 4 and begins planned maintenance today (May 11) for key projects around Wirral.

As with every other year, the borough’s road network is of significant interest to residents, in particular the annual highway maintenance programme, which is scheduled to go ahead as planned this summer.

Simon Fox, Interim Assistant Director for Highways & Infrastructure at Wirral Council, said: “The council recognise that whilst this is a challenging time, highway works are an essential part of providing a safe environment for essential workers to travel.”

“The safety and wellbeing of council staff, contractors and residents in the local area is of utmost importance and although maintenance works will continue, measures will be put into place so this can happen safely and in accordance with current guidance.

“I would like to reassure residents that procedures will be regularly monitored, and no work will commence without a fully developed risk assessment.”

In line with government guidance on social distancing, many residents are travelling only when essential, resulting in a reduced number of vehicles on the road.

The council says that maintenance works scheduled at this time aim to not only make the network safer and more efficient but will take advantage of the reduced traffic flow on the network and help to minimise disruption to residents.

Mr Fox added: “During this challenging time, a number of things are creating difficult situations for many people across the borough and it is important that we continue to support one another.

“By continuing with works, the council can also support contractors and their workforce, including local companies, providing jobs and income to families around Wirral."

The highway works will still remain prioritised to ensure that safety related works are completed first.

The suspension of other planned works such as vehicle crossings will remain in place to ensure that the highest priority works and surveys on the highway can start safely and effectively.