Road improvements will continue to take place across Staffordshire during the COVID-19 outbreak…
Highways teams across Staffordshire will be continuing to carry out repairs and improvement schemes on the county's road network during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will mean fixing potholes and delivering other road repairs to ensure that emergency services and key workers can continue to travel safely.
In line with Government advice, highways and construction workers can and should keep working as long as they are healthy and able to practise social distancing.
Helen Fisher, Leader of Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“It is vital that we are maintaining our road network, especially during these times. Our crews are out there working to ensure that our roads are as safe as possible for all those that are travelling to help during the pandemic, and I would ask that members of the public support them in doing just that.
“They will continue to work where they can, but we do need to take decisions on whether we continue to operate road schemes considering public safety, the safety of our employees and our suppliers’ operations.
“What is right for one site may not be right for another, it is important that our local judgement applies unless and until any further restrictions are applied in support of the overall health strategy. The overriding priority is the safety of the public and our employees.”
Alok Sharma MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), commented:
“In these challenging times, I want to pay tribute to all those who are working tirelessly within the construction industry, delivering on large or small construction sites across the country, in builders’ merchants and logistics providers, or producing construction and mineral products.
“Our country and our economy needs all of our support. And the construction industry has answered the call-to-action. My heartfelt and personal thanks go to everyone is supporting our joint national effort.
“The Government has advised that wherever possible, people should work at home. However, we know that for many people working in construction their job requires them to travel to their place of work, and they can continue to do so. This is consistent with the Chief Medical Officer’s advice.”