Openreach cable works under way in Fort William
Openreach, BT's network division, is about to start the next phase of major cable alteration works in the Fort William area, from the town centre to the A82/A830 junction at Lochybridge.
A new Basecamp bridge was built in 1999/2000 on the A82 North Road next to the Ben Nevis Hotel and Transport Scotland has asked Openreach to recover communications equipment from the old bridge to allow it to be demolished.
Openreach will transfer its network infrastructure to the new bridge, where ducts are already in place.
Most of Openreach’s network along the A82/A830 roads passes through ducts in the old bridge. This includes multiple fibre optic and junction cables, which connect Fort William and surrounding communities to the national network, as well as main and local distribution cables serving the businesses and communities on the north and west of the town.
Fraser Rowberry, Openreach’s general manager in Scotland, said: “We’re creating a large new underground chamber in footway and verge to the north of the entrance to the retail park on North Road, Fort William.
“Openreach has arranged the works to ensure that there are two traffic lanes in operation throughout the day, with any lane closures at night time. This duct-laying work and the majority of the new cabling and the redundant cable removal will therefore take place at night to reduce traffic congestion through the town.
“We’ll be making every effort to minimise the timescale of the works. I’d like to ask road users to bear with us as we carry out this necessary work.”
Traffic management plans have been lodged with and approved by BEAR Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland.
BEAR Scotland’s Eddie Ross, Operating Company Representative for the North West Unit, said: “We have been working closely with Openreach to ensure that the works being undertaken will be carried out with minimum impact on residents, road users and businesses in Fort William. As always, we would like to encourage road users travelling on this section of the road to plan ahead and to leave some extra time for their journey, if possible.”
Openreach, BT's network division, is about to start the next phase of major cable alteration works in the Fort William area, from the town centre to the A82/A830 junction at Lochybridge.
A new Basecamp bridge was built in 1999/2000 on the A82 North Road next to the Ben Nevis Hotel and Transport Scotland has asked Openreach to recover communications equipment from the old bridge to allow it to be demolished.
Openreach will transfer its network infrastructure to the new bridge, where ducts are already in place.
Most of Openreach’s network along the A82/A830 roads passes through ducts in the old bridge. This includes multiple fibre optic and junction cables, which connect Fort William and surrounding communities to the national network, as well as main and local distribution cables serving the businesses and communities on the north and west of the town.
Fraser Rowberry, Openreach’s general manager in Scotland, said: “We’re creating a large new underground chamber in footway and verge to the north of the entrance to the retail park on North Road, Fort William.
“Openreach has arranged the works to ensure that there are two traffic lanes in operation throughout the day, with any lane closures at night time. This duct-laying work and the majority of the new cabling and the redundant cable removal will therefore take place at night to reduce traffic congestion through the town.
“We’ll be making every effort to minimise the timescale of the works. I’d like to ask road users to bear with us as we carry out this necessary work.”
Traffic management plans have been lodged with and approved by BEAR Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland.
BEAR Scotland’s Eddie Ross, Operating Company Representative for the North West Unit, said: “We have been working closely with Openreach to ensure that the works being undertaken will be carried out with minimum impact on residents, road users and businesses in Fort William. As always, we would like to encourage road users travelling on this section of the road to plan ahead and to leave some extra time for their journey, if possible.”
For information on progress, the timing of future stages or the reporting of problems please contact Pete Morrell, Openreach Repayments Project Manager (Scotland), on 07435 661578.
