WORK is to begin on the rest of the flood defences at Wisbech after refurbishment downstream of Freedom Bridge and through the port.
The Environment Agency, consultants Atkins and contractors Interserve are setting up a site compound near to Bevis Hall on the North Brink where they will be based until the project is completed next year.
The scheme, which involves maintaining de
fences and strengthening in some places, will reduce the risk of flooding to nearly 10,500 homes and more than 1,200 businesses by sustaining the present level of flood protection for the next 50 years.
In early August the first stage of the work will begin with the replacement of steel sheet piles along a 2.2km stretch of the North Brink.
The sheet piles along the South Brink will be refurbished.
In order to carry out the work, roads adjacent to these areas will be closed for seven months and traffic diverted.
Environment Agency project manager Andrew Rouse said: "We apologise for this inconvenience in advance but would be grateful to drivers if they would follow the diversion signs as they are there for safety reasons."
Work to the brickwork floodwalls, upstream from Town Bridge, will follow later in the year.
This will include raising the existing floodwall, along with the complete rebuilding of lengths of floodwall where their foundations have failed.
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