MOTORISTS using a major route through Stevenage face four more weeks of disruption due to a delay with completing roadworks.

Six Hills Way between Valley Way and Shephall Way closed on July 22 so a new bridge could be built, but the road will not reopen next Friday, September 13, as planned.

Instead the roadworks, which are being carried out by Geoffrey Osborne Ltd on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council, are now expected to be finished on October 4.

A number of bus routes have been affected by the closure, with an Arriva driver telling the Comet last week that passengers had been “failed”.

Speaking about the delay, Terry Douris, county council Cabinet member for highways, said: “Unfortunately, the bridge deck replacement works on Six Hills Way are going to take a little longer than originally planned and the road is now scheduled to be reopened on the 4th October. This delay is as a result of issues with the construction methods used when the structure was originally built.

“We appreciate that this is an important road in Stevenage and understand that the extended closure is likely to cause continued disruption to your journey. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused but these are essential maintenance works which can only be carried out with a full road closure for the safety of our workers and all road users.”

The work was due to cost £347,000 but the final figure is now expected to be more.

A spokesman for the county council was unable to provide the Comet with an amount but said: “The financial implications of the delay are minor.”

The spokesman added that letters were being sent out to residents and stakeholders affected.

David Dee, who lives nearby, said: “I have to reroute my way to the A1(M) morning and evening as do most people from this area of Stevenage. An overrun on the contract period is going to cost someone – probably us council tax payers – a lot of money. It would be good to know exactly what these issues with the original construction were when in essence the structure could have been completely demolished and a new one built within the time frame.”