Dorset Highways’ paving works in Blandford are being put on hold to allow unforeseen utility work to be carried out.

Dorset Council says it recently came to light that fibreoptic cabling is set to be laid under the pavements in the town centre this autumn and, to avoid newly laid paving being disturbed, the highways project is being paused.

The contractor undertaking the cabling works has around 200 connections to make throughout the town centre. They are currently carrying out site investigations to inform their scheme design – which will require some new ducting to be installed in the footway.

To ensure that this cabling is complete before the new paving is installed, Dorset Highways has completed its first phase of work (which will not be affected by the cabling) and have now left the site. All pavements have been left safe, and workers will return to Blandford in the New Year to complete the paving project once the utility cables have all been installed.

The council said: “A new way of working had recently been established for the project in order to minimise disruption to residents and businesses, and this will be put back into operation when work resumes.

“This sees highways operatives focussing on one area at a time rather than two. The new overall programme has been split into ten phases, with work being carried out in much smaller sections of around 15m at a time; with the old paving removed, foundation prepared and new slabs laid before the team move along to the next 15m of that phase. Although much less disruptive for residents and businesses, this new way of working extends the project to a total of 33 weeks rather than the original proposed 12 weeks. More detail of the phasing of works in the New Year will be provided nearer the time.”

By Nicci Brown