The new road looks as if it will be very narrow (assuming the kerbs remain where they are now).

Hi Sherwood
The narrower the better.

Narrow indeed, and pavements wide, as originally explained when people questioned the layout. I think the compromise is right. Sadly its unlikely to stop the selfish people picking up commutors who will still just stop and block the road.

As for the utilities companies. I dont think the councils have the right to DEMAND things are replaced. But according to MH, they were indeed in discussion with the water authorities to replace the main. Sadly they decided against doing it while they had the perfect opportunity. And probably spent just as much attending emergency call outs to spot repair it.

As long as the vehicles stay in the road and do not use the pavement.

The water authorities probably charged the builders for the repairs.

Remains to be seen what height the kerbs will be yet, but then once you put a crossing table in as suggested by some, suddenly there is no kerb anymore. All in the name of people who cant step off a kerb safely lol

Good point about the repairs. But I bet there will be arguments over paying the said bill, given how old and rotton the water pipe is.

They've carefully laid, and pressed, the layers including a matting (presumably for structural integrity) and all sorts of construction fun, and finally they add tarmac.

... and what do they do next?

They dig a big hole in it, cutting the mesh and digging through the layers ... probably to reach a leaking pipe

Oh what madness!!

Just thought I would mention that the bit of road in front of North Dulwich train station has now reopened and the P4 is no longer diverted all around the corner.

Yeah I noticed it was open a couple of days after mentioning it last

Rob, is that recent? They did that last week too. There are gonna be dips and weak spots in that road all over the place.

well, pretty recent

this was taken at 12:15 this afternoon

Oh blimey, I have not passed that in a couple of days... there goes the road then

And having just left the Kafe La, there's a burst pipe somewhere along there - water was streaming along the gutter.

Its just getting worse eh.
Sad ending to the whole affair really, but I guess there are various points of blame for different people along the way.

Would just be nice if the thing gets sorted once and for all. But I can see this being a long term issue somehow.

Just let the pipes burst and we can have canals like Venice!

Not canals - Welcome to the Perry Vale Lido, complete with 10m diving board

From what I have heard now, the proposal of the main being replaced would have caused something in the region of 3 months of planning and delays to get it done. Minimum.

TW advised that they did NOT need to divert their mains, and the construction of the road was suitable and met their approval.

BT and Virgin Media cables and ducts have however been added, so that should be a couple of utilities that dont need to do any digging on the new surface.

The hole which appeared in the new carriageway, (pictured by Rob) was actually planned, to uncover a sewer vent, and to now install the drain cover etc. Was easier to cover and then make the road, THEN uncover it when the road surface was all done.

Finally, the plan is still to re-open the road on Oct 10th, which will leave a few bits like street furnishings to finish up, but these can be done with the road open.

This concludes the updates kindly supplied by Mick Hepworth

Is it this that is causing tailbacks through Forest Hill going East on the 205 (that clear pretty quickly a few blocks down). Now even BD has to drive occasionally but it is taking 15 minutes to get out of the posh estate from Devonshire, just after the peak, when in the last ten years there is such a hold up once every few months rather than every time. Have they changed the timing on the lights? Are more people turning right out of Devonshire due to the hold ups on Honor Oak PArk by Tescos? Very annoying!

I find Devonshire Rd hit and miss to be honest. Some days its quiet, other days can take 10-15 mins to get out of.
I do think that Church Rise being used for the diversion rather than Westbourne would have eased the congestion, preventing the build up on the corner of PV by the Co-Op, but thats a bit late suggesting now, and CR is split, where Westbourne is one road.

With regards to the lights up London Road, I do think something has changed on the timing there. The tailbacks along the A205 reaching back to Dulwich Village, is causing the traffic to go up via Lordship Lane, and round the back to Canobie, Tyson then Devonshire.

All ending up sadly in a stationary Forest Hill.

Lets see what happens next week with PV hopefully reopening. Progress looks good there I must say.

News from the Perry Vale assembly is that the road will be closed until the end of the month.

No way !! Any ideas why? All seemed so on track too.

Snazy
Used to live in Devonshire up until April. Lived near Ewelme Rd Juntion and traffic about 6pm often back to even Benson or god forbid Tyson.
The good honest citizens of DR are subject to excess car exhaust plus often very anti social loud ( music ).
Before one uses DR as a short cut think of the locals.
I agree though diversion should have been via Church Rise.
Basically far to much traffic. Used to walk frequently from my old DR residence to Dacres Road as twice as quick as by car , but walking by all the polution was a pain.