RESIDENTS and traders in Whitecroft, who have been besieged by the massive Severn Trent pipe replacement works for several months, look set to heave a sigh of relief as workers on the site have hinted that the works could be completed 'in just over a week'.

The roadworks, which have closed the main north-south forest route since January, have been beset by problems for the contractors – including the weather which flooded their four-metre deep trenches to an extent that huge industrial pumps that were brought in to try and drain them, could not cope with the sheer volume of water.

Workmen, who were racing to complete the project, told the Review on Tuesday morning that they hoped to complete the works by the end of next week.

One said: "This has been a huge challenge, and we do realise the disruption that it has caused and for which we are sincerely sorry. "But, as well as delays cause by the dreadful weather, it has been a technical nightmare too, since when we started digging the trenches to take the new pipes we found fibre optic cables, a live gas main and other pipes and cables. This meant that for a lot of the time we couldn't use mechanical diggers, so much of the work had to be done by hand with spades – often in a trench full of water."

He added: "I have been working on projects like this for over 25 years and I've never seen anything to rival this in terms of the challenges we've had to get over."

The new blue mains water pipes have now been assembled, above ground, and are now ready to be buried – after which the road will have to be resurfaced and made suitable for traffic again.

It is expected that the completion of the work will see a spate of claims against Severn Trent from local companies for losses they have suffered due to the extensive period that the road has been closed.

•Drivers are being warned that the westbound carriageway of the old Severn Bridge will be closed completely from 9.00pm Friday May 9 until 6.00am on Monday May 12, for maintenance.