WORK is set to begin to make roads ready in Warwick and Leamington for top cyclists taking part in the Commonwealth Games road races.
The Birmingham 2022 road races – 160km men’s /112km women’s – will take place around Warwick and Leamington on Sunday August 7.
Thousands of cycling enthusiasts are expected to flock to the area to watch the races with millions more also watching on television around the globe.
In order to make the roads safe for the competitors, some adaptations need to be carried out to some roads – including road narrowings and centre islands taken out ahead of the event. After the race, the road furniture will then be re-installed, in many cases with improved materials.
Work will start on Sunday (July 3) in Warwick on the Coventry Road by St Johns House Museum with a rolling programme of work then moving across the district over the next four weeks.
Highway chiefs say disruption will be kept to a minimum with work starting and finishing each day outside peak hours and weekend work being done wherever possible.
But there will be cases where roads need to be closed for brief periods or temporary traffic management installed.
Details of the dates and locations of the works will be posted on the county council website at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/current-planned-roadworks-1/road-closures-advance-commonwealth-games
Updates will also be issued in advance of any work starting on the Warwickshire County Council (WCC) social media channels and on Next Door.
The same process will be followed after the Games when the road furniture is reinstalled.
WCC highways spokesman Wallace Redford said: “With the area being under an international spotlight, it’s critical that the highways around the route of the road race are safe for the riders. It makes sense that we have brought this programme of work forward to make sure that the road race is remembered for all the right reasons – a world-class event in an outstanding location and one that will put the area on the international map.
“There will inevitably be changes to people’s journeys on days when work is being done. However, I trust that road users will appreciate that, in working weekends and outside peak hours in the day, we have made every effort to keep any disruption to a minimum. I thank them, in advance, for their co-operation and hope that they enjoy what will be a fantastic event when it comes to town.”
