A MILLION pound water improvement project has started in Worcester city centre and will see road closures as a result.

Severn Trent Water's £1.25million scheme includes the installation of new pipes to help prevent leaks and bursts.

After work has finished, new road surfaces will be installed early next year.

Work begin in the Shambles, including the Pump Street junction, today (Monday) and will last until September 7. From later next week, drivers will not have access to that road during the usual 4.30pm to 10.30am time frame.

Signs and barriers will then be in operation in St Swithin’s Street between September 10 and 21 while new pipes are installed there.

Trinity Street is next, with road closures and a reversal of the one-way system in operation between September 24 and October 2.

Then there will be road closures in Mealcheapen Street between October 3 and October 12 and Church Street between October 15 and October 26 – again for new pipes.

Gareth Mead, from Severn Trent, said: “This work is really important for the people of Worcester as it means they’ll have a water supply they can rely on for future generations.

“The older pipes get, the more likely they are to burst and cause problems for our customers, so doing this work now means we can make sure the water keeps flowing in Worcester.”

Severn Trent's contract partners Amey will carry out the work, with everything expected to be completed in October.

Mr Mead added: “We know this is a busy area of town, and every effort has been made to minimise any disruption caused. There will be some traffic restrictions in place so our teams can work safely but all businesses will remain open during our work and pedestrian access along The Shambles will always be available.”

This is part of Severn Trent’s upgrade scheme where the equivalent of £1,400 for every home and business it serves will be spent between 2015 and 2020.

For more information, see www.stw.works. Businesses affected can contact businesscompensation@severntrent.co.uk