ONE of the biggest infrastructure projects in Stroud for many years began on Monday.

Severn Trent Water is undertaking a £25 million sewage project to help prevent flooding and pollution of rivers.

Work will affect the community in various ways with the main issue being a temporary 30mph speed limit set to be imposed on the A419 Ebley bypass which will run until June next year.

The project will see the installation of approximately three kilometres of larger waste pipes to create more capacity during heavy rainfall.

Smart controls will be installed and the project will also mean surface water from the sewer network will be separated from waste water.

The work will mean water can be held back during storms and returned to treatment works once rainfall has subsided.

Improvements will also take place at the Stanley Downton Sewage Treatment Works near Stonehouse.

Phase 1 

The first of three phases started on Monday with teams working off Lodgemore Lane by the canal off Cainscross Road in Stroud carrying out preparation work.

Initial work is expected to take two weeks with this phase expected to be completed by mid-April.

There will be parking restrictions.

Phase 2

The second phase involves work in Stroud town centre and will take around five months starting this Monday.

Work will take place in Acre Street, Middle Street and Nelson Street with road closures in place.

Pedestrian access to homes and businesses will be maintained however parking will be affected.

Phase 3

The third phase starting on Monday, March 21 will see work taking place in fields adjacent to the Ebley bypass to construct a new sewerage site.

Work will also take place on the sewer system alongside the River Frome.

This will take around 18 months.

Ebley bypass

For the first three months temporary traffic lights will be in place mid-way along the bypass between the Sainsbury's roundabout and Ryeford Industrial Estate.

A temporary 30mph speed limit will also be in place until June next year for safety reasons.

It is not clear when this will begin but it is likely to start later this month.

Temporary traffic lights will be re-introduced at specific times throughout the duration of the work when needed.

Message from Severn Trent Water 

Severn Trent community officer Janine Billington said: “We’d like to thank our customers in Stroud in advance for their patience whilst we carry out this major project that will benefit the area for years to come.

“Although this work is really important, we know it can be inconvenient.

"Any road closures, temporary traffic lights and parking restrictions are in place to keep customers and our teams safe and will allow us to complete the work as quickly as possible."

UPDATE - Severn Trent Water have confirmed it is a 30mph speed limit