THE High Street in Cinderford will be closed for seven days next week for sewer works, while resurfacing will also shut a 2.7-mile section of the Wye Valley Road for eight days.

Severn Trent Water will be carrying out “essential work to upgrade the sewer pipes” beneath Cinderford High Street from next Monday, February 5, to Sunday, February 11.

A spokesman said: “To allow our engineers to work safely, High Street will be closed between Seven Stars Road and Parragate Road while the project is completed, and a fully signposted diversion will be in place.

“We know this will have some impact on local traffic and our teams will work as quickly as possible to get the sewer upgrades completed and the roads returned to normal.”

Work also starts on Monday on upgrading the A466 road between Redbrook and Bigsweir Bridge.

As part of the £200,000 upgrade, crews will lay 1,571 tonnes of material, equivalent to five Boeing 747 planes in weight.

The 7.30am to 5.30pm closure from the south end of Redbrook will take place on weekdays from next February 5 to Wednesday, February 14.

Diversion signs will be in place at the junction of the A4136 and the A466 for those approaching from the north. For those travelling from the south, signs will be in place at the roundabout with the B4293.

If coming from the M48 at Chepstow, Gloucestershire highways department will be diverting traffic along the A48 to Lydney, left onto B4231 Bream Road to Trow Green, and right onto the B4228 to Coleford.  

Motorists travelling between Monmouth and Chepstow can also go ‘over the top’ via Trellech, Creigau, Devauden and Itton Common.

Alternatively, commuters can follow diversion signs through Staunton, Coleford and Sling in the direction of Trow Green, then the B4231 to Lydney onto the A48 to Chepstow.

Cllr Vernon Smith (Con, Tewkesbury), Gloucestershire County Council Cabinet member for highways and flood, said: “The A466 is a very important commuter route into Gloucestershire.

“Making sure our highways are in great condition helps keep the county moving. This work will mean a smooth and pothole free drive for residents, commuters, businesses and buses which rely on this route, and will help ensure the condition of the road in the future.”

Cllr Patrick Molyneux (Con, Sedbury) said: “I’m really pleased that we are now able to include this important and heavily used stretch of road in the new resurfacing programme.

“The scheme will mean residents benefit from good driving conditions along this route into the future, so it’s excellent news for the area. I’d like to thank road users for their patience while this work is carried out.”