Posted on Friday 3rd April 2020
Highways teams across Staffordshire will be continuing their work to carry out road repair and improvement schemes across the county during the coronavirus pandemic.
That means fixing potholes and carrying out other road repairs where they can to ensure key workers and emergency services can get to where they need to be safely.
Crews will also be continuing to work on schemes where workforce and supplies allow to help protect the economy during the pandemic.
In line with Government advice highways and construction workers can and should keep working as long as they are fit and well and able to practise social distancing.
Staffordshire County Council’s highways and transport leader Helen Fisher said:
It is vital that we are maintaining our road network, especially during these times.
Our crews are out there working to help ensure that our roads are as safe as possible for all those that are travelling to help with 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 and 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, said:
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 our support. And the construction industry has answered the call to action. My heartfelt and personal thanks for everything that each and every one of you is doing to support 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.”