'Open-ended road closures' queried

Thursday 29 June 2023

Residents at opposite ends of the island have been asking why some minor roads are closed for months on end, with very little work obvious to passers-by, and no apparent reason for cyclists and pedestrians being banned from one lane as well as motorists.

Traffic and Highways Services has explained why both Rue de Quanteraine in St Peter's and Rue de l'Epine in the Vale are shut.

Rue de Quanteraine has been shut since November last year after a landslip from a private property forced the complete closure of the lane for safety reasons. 

It was due to reopen this week but Express was told that the closure has been extended, indefinitely.

The landowner had planned to carry out remedial works on the area affected by the landslip - including granite blocks which had fallen from a wall into the road - during spring, once there was a long enough period of dry weather to ensure the work could go ahead. However, as the first half of this year was wetter than average the work couldn't proceed as planned.

Pictured: The wet spring months meant work in Rue de Quanteraine could not progress as planned.

Traffic and Highways Services said there was a risk to public safety as the wet ground conditions meant a further collapse was likely so the road had to be fully closed, to cyclists and pedestrians as well as vehicles, for a long period of time until the work could be carried out.

The area has now been made safe for cyclists and pedestrians but the road remains closed to motorists until further notice.

A resident in the area had told Express that while the road has been closed access to the National Trust site, which includes farm dwellings and a mill wheel, was prohibited.

The mill-wheel was repaired in 2020 and is highlighted as a visitor attraction. As pedestrian and cycle access has now been restored to the area, it's believed visitors will be able to go there this summer if they wish.

Pictured: The water wheel on Rue de Quanteraine was inaccessible for around six months but now pedestrians and cyclists can access it again.

Traffic and Highways Services said: "I can confirm that a the road section is open to pedestrians now, but am awaiting an update from the property owner who has been in discussions with his surveyor and contractors about the necessary works to remedy the collapse of the land behind where it has collapsed already."

In the Vale, Rue de l'Epine which leads to Beaucette Marina, was closed "without notice" and "currently has no definite date for reopening".

The parish douzaine was asked about it by residents, with Traffic and Highways Services confirming that the closure was due to rockfall and subsidence in the quarry bordering the road.

Further surveys and inspections are due to be carried out before the road can reopen fully, but cyclists and pedestrians are able to use it.

Pictured: The Vale Douzaine has been fielding queries about a road near Beaucette Marina being closed.

On the parish website, Vale Senior Constable Richard Leale said he was interested in finding out more about the 'sudden' and 'unexplained' road closure because another road in the parish which was closed temporarily has remained shut for years.

"...there are two issues of interest here," he said. "The first is how long a 'temporary' closure should be – Hougue Jehannet behind the Power Station has been closed for years without any formal process being followed.