One last closure day for key road through Braunton following water leak
Caen Street in Braunton has been closed for 24 hours at the most as workers complete the final roadworks needed following the recent water main burst
A main road through Braunton is closed today (Tuesday, October 20) as final resurfacing works are carried out following a water main burst last week.
It is the second emergency closure of Caen Street within a week and the road is expected to be closed between Tiki surf shop and the Square until 6am at the latest tomorrow.
Braunton county councillor Graham Bell posted this morning to say he had spoken to South West Water and the company was confident the works would be completed by then and is currently resurfacing sections of the road.
Businesses in Caen Street are open as normal but access is only for pedestrians.
Caen Street connects Braunton to Saunton, Croyde and Georgeham. Cllr Bell said he understood the official diversion is through Georgeham but that many people were using Caen Car Park as a cut through or Score Bridge – he has reminded people that the bridge has a weight limit and the car park as well as the Georgeham is unsuitable for heavy vehicles.
He urged drivers of heavy vehicles or anyone who was uncertain driving on narrower lanes to use the longer diversion through Mullacott.
Caen Street closed unexpectedly overnight last Thursday when a water main burst and work has continued to repair the damage, with four-way traffic lights in operation for most of it.
Many people lost water pressure or their water supply entirely, although most were restored to at least some water supply during the course of last Friday.
It also coincided with works to upgrade the village centre traffic lights to improve traffic flow through the notorious bottleneck.
Cllr Bell posted on Facebook to say: “Thank you to everyone who has shown patience and courtesy this morning and will continue to do so.
“This has been an unprecedented week for all of us. Great that so many people have done all they can to help their neighbours.”
Referring to the recent news Devon County Council had allocated an extra £4.5million for its highways maintenance budget, Cllr Bell told the Gazette: “The centre of Braunton takes the traffic for around 25,000 people across the northeast tip of the region. This is why the additional £4.5m in protective measures matter so much.
“We've spent the last year making roads safer and reducing flood risks. Braunton has demonstrated twice in the last week that this investment helps keep the highways moving, even when we face sudden and unexpected closures like we've seen twice this week.
“With the maternity crisis in the third month I'm so grateful for SW Ambulances for constantly being on the ball and knowing how to get to people, even in the remotest parts of Croyde and Georgeham. Again, we have to invest now to ensure we keep our highways improving.
“An absolutely massive thank you to everyone in Braunton, Georgeham, Ilfracombe and Barnstaple for showing so much courtesy and grace during these problems. Without your kindness and thoughtfulness a bad situation would have been bedlam.”