Wimblington Road in Manea will close twice for a full reconstruction costing £780,000. The work begins on 9 November 2026 and runs until 11 December, pauses for Christmas, then continues from 5 January to 29 January 2027.
Two closures, one rebuild
The road forms part of the B1093 and will shut to all except emergency and works traffic during the closures. The break allows the road to reopen for the Christmas period, reducing disruption to residents and businesses.
The reconstruction involves carriageway recycling, a process that breaks up the existing road material and reuses it in place to form a new road structure. This approach limits the need to remove old material, minimising waste and disruption.
Checking the diversion routes
Traffic will divert along Fifty Road, Padgetts Road and Sixteen Foot Bank while Wimblington Road is closed. The county council has inspected these routes and will carry out further assessments immediately before works commence.
Wisbech Road, an alternative some drivers might use, has also been inspected. Repairs on Wisbech Road will be completed before the Wimblington Road closure starts.
Road condition concerns
Local councillor Charlie Marks highlighted concerns from residents about the condition of the diversion routes. He noted collapsed edges, crumbling surfaces and potholes on Byall Fen Road, Wisbech Road and Fifty Road.
Residents also requested clarity on whether extra winter services like gritting and snow clearance would be provided to protect the diversion routes, especially given the potential impact of frost and surface water.
Marks has invited project officers to meet Manea parish councillors to discuss these issues before work starts.
Full reconstruction vs patching
A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson confirmed the work is part of the Highways Maintenance programme and involves full reconstruction rather than patching.
Full reconstruction entails replacing the road’s top layers to create a stable, lasting surface. The work will also address drainage, signs, road markings and vegetation clearance if needed.
Patching, by contrast, fixes isolated defects and leaves the existing road largely unchanged.
Preparing for traffic shifts
Closures shift traffic to neighbouring roads. On fen roads, which often suffer from drainage and structural problems, inspecting diversion routes is critical to prevent further damage.
The council’s inspections and planned repairs aim to ensure these routes can accommodate increased loads during the Wimblington Road closure.
Elsewhere in Cambridgeshire, trials of different repair methods continue on peat roads, reflecting the county’s wider efforts to maintain vulnerable infrastructure.
