Dates for road closures required to complete the safe demolition of the closed Broadway multi-storey car park in Maidenhead have been confirmed.
Demolition began on Monday (29 January) and is expected to take around 12 weeks – quicker than originally envisaged.
The demolition is being carried out from east to west, with the spiral ramp and staircase tower being the last part of the car park to be removed. This will require, firstly, a partial closure of Broadway, and then a full closure to demolish these parts of the car park.
From 11 to 28 March, a lane closure will be in place on Broadway to ensure a safe distance is maintained from the demolition works for passing traffic and pedestrians. This will include the closure of the current designated Broadway access lane (adjacent directly to the car park) with the right-hand lane along Broadway being open to enable traffic to continue to access the town centre. During this time the spiral ramp will be demolished.
A full road closure on Broadway will then be required – from 17 to 26 April, daily between 9am to 3pm, with no weekend closures permitted – in order to enable the safe demolition of the staircase tower. A diversion will be in place via A4 Frascati Way, A4 Bad Godesberg Way, A4 St Clouds Way, Forlease Road, Bridge Road and High Street.
The council will be holding engagement events for residents and businesses in the vicinity of the car park, prior to the road closures, as part of managing the impacts of the work.
Cabinet agreed in July to the demolition of the car park, to remove the safety risks posed by the failed structure, while reducing the potential for anti-social behaviour and town centre blight.
Councillor Geoff Hill, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “In order to demolish the car park’s spiral ramp and staircase tower safely and ensure a safe distance is maintained from the works for passing traffic and pedestrians, a partial and then full road are needed. As with any large-scale demolition project, there is likely to be some unavoidable disruption to undertake these works safely, but we’re striving to minimise this as best we can.
"To help manage the impacts of the closures we’ll be engaging with businesses and residents so that they can find out more and ask any questions. I would again like to thank everyone for their ongoing patience, and for continuing to play their part for Maidenhead town centre by shopping locally and supporting traders.”
As a result of the road closure weekdays between 17 and 26 April the following bus routes will be affected:
• Thames Valley Buses routes 3, 7, 8, 9, 16, 53, 234, 235, 238 and 239 will not call at Broadway, Market St, Library, Queen St, York Rd East bus stops between 9am and 3pm, but will outside these times. All other stops served as usual.
• Arriva route 7 and Red Eagle Buses route 63 will only pick up from Frascati Way stop S1/S2 and turn at the roundabout south of the station, at all times, not just between 9am and 3pm.
• ‘Where to catch your bus’ information will be posted at all bus stops to help people find the right stop, in addition to extra signage explaining which buses are calling where during this period.