DUNCOMBE Street in Kingsbridge will be closed to all traffic until Friday, January 27.

The road was closed from Monday this week as part of South West Water’s renovation of the town’s sewerage system.

A spokesperson for Kingsbridge Police said: ‘This is going to cause an increase in traffic around the Rack Park and Saffron Park areas.

‘Please be aware of congestion and be aware that you will be travelling through residential areas which brings hazards such as children and animals. Please drive with caution and keep your speed to a minimum.’

SWW’s £250,000 scheme began in October for five weeks, pausing for Christmas, with the second phase beginning this month and running until March.

Councillor Chris Povey, Kingsbridge town mayor, said: ‘It is inevitable that we will experience some road closures and diversions during this essential work to create new infrastructure and these may well feel frustrating.

‘I hope everyone will appreciate that a few minutes in a traffic jam listening to your favourite tunes is infinitely better than a jammed sewer system!

‘So, please keep smiling and prove that as the great town that we are, we can take everything in our stride.’

SWW project manager Andy Young said: ‘This is a real investment in Kingsbridge’s future. Without this necessary work the sewer network will continue to deteriorate.

‘That can lead to collapses - which cause pollution, flooding and odour.

‘Where possible we will be using innovative no-dig techniques but some excavations will be necessary. As well as upgrading over 700 metres of pipe, we will also be preventing sea water entering the network during high tides.

‘We will be working hard to minimise disruption to the public and businesses as far as possible while completing these essential improvements.’

After the Duncombe Street work is complete, SWW will be working on Wallingford Road and Waterloo Road (east) from Wednesday, January 25 until Friday, January 27. And will be closing Church Street from Monday, February 6 to Friday, February 10.

Further works are planned for February and March throughout the town, full details are on the South West Water website.