The long-awaited link road between Naas Lane and Kingsway is nearing completion at last - much to the delight of fed-up residents.
Issues concerning adoption of the drainage system and balancing ponds which drain the area around the road have seen developer Robert Hitchins' repeated assurances of a completion date for the link road come and pass, leaving frustrated residents unable to access Kingsway from the Naas Lane roundabout - by car or by foot.
For several years, the link road has been blocked at both ends by concrete barriers - preventing access to the businesses on the stretch of road there.
In particular, mums with babies and young children walking to and from the BarBar Nursery, have complained about the difficulties they encounter trying to navigate the silt, rubble, mud and deep puddles with prams, buggies and toddlers in tow.
Gloucestershire Highways refused to adopt the road until a recognised authority adopted the balancing ponds and agreed to take on the responsibility for their on-going maintenance.
Neither Severn Trent Water or Gloucestershire Highways would agree - the latter claiming that they do not form part of the highway network.
Prolonged negotiations between Robert Hitchins and Gloucester City Council have seen an agreement reached at last, and Gloucestershire Highways has agreed to adopt the road, once final surfacing and other remedial works have been completed.
Preparations for the final surfacing work got underway yesterday.
Due to the work required to finish the link road, Quedgeley Urban Village Ltd (QUVL) - a consortium comprising some of the developers involved in the construction works at Kingsway - have announced changes to access to the community centre.
"As from October 16, access to the community centre will be from Rudloe Drive," said a spokesperson for QUVL.
"No access will be available from the road north of Naas Lane. We are installing signage to help people identify this route.
"This access will be shared with the haulage company, and users of the centre should be aware of heavy goods vehicles moving in this area.
"We have introduced additional giveway provisions and have met with Pullmans Haulage, who will reinforce the message that this is a shared access with their drivers."
