Construction began at Scholars' Way East on 23 July on the Oakley and Copseland section of the route. We are very sorry to confirm that work on the Oakley/Copseland improvement scheme has now been paused.
During construction, previously unidentified underground utility services were discovered in critical locations within the scheme. Despite extensive investigations carried out during the design and planning stages, these services could not be fully identified until excavation works commenced. Their location presents significant challenges to delivering the proposed improvements as planned.
We understand this news will be disappointing, particularly given the long-standing support for these improvements and the disruption caused by the recent road closure. We sincerely apologise to residents, businesses, road users and the wider community for the frustration this will cause.
To minimise further disruption, we will reinstate the existing road layout and remove traffic management arrangements while we undertake further investigations. We are working closely with utility providers and technical specialists to determine whether a viable solution can be found and how the scheme may proceed in the future.
We will continue to provide regular updates as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.