Construction on Reid Street could continue after the Labour Day weekend.

This morning the Corporation of Hamilton began extensive road works on Reid Street, between King Street and Court Street, in the first major collaboration with private firms to put water pipes and fibre optic cables below ground.

Previously, pipes and cables were put underground at various times causing portions of the road to be resurfaced. The Corporation hopes that by doing it all at once the asphalt surface will last longer.

Yesterday, Ed Benevides, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary for the City of Hamilton, said the short term inconvenience would pay off in the long run.

They are aiming for the work to be completed this Friday, however it may continue on past the Labour Day holiday when schools resume. "We wanted to get it done before schools start unfortunately we may bleed into the first week of school," he said. "It is complicated to coordinate seven different companies schedules. It will inconvenience some people but once the work is done the road should be good for 20 years."

This is the first major collaboration the Corporation has done and Mr. Benevides said going forward the public can expect to see more projects like it.

In order to accommodate extra traffic this week there will be two lanes operational from Crow Lane through to Court Street between 7.30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

This means traffic travelling east on Front Street will be diverted up Court Street. There will be no parking on the south side of Front Street, from Spurling's Hill to Court Street, during these hours. After 9 a.m. each day East Broadway will be reduced to one lane of inbound traffic and will remain that way until 7.30 a.m. the following day.

There will be no right turn from Front Street to King Street between 7.30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Traffic will be able to travel from Middle Road to Reid Street but there will be no left turn at King Street between 7.30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Buses travelling along Middle Road into the city will be diverted to Front Street, via Court Street, where left turns will be controlled by a Police officer.

Traffic flow at the Front and Court Streets intersection will also be controlled by a Police officer between 7.30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Eastbound traffic on Front Street will be diverted north on Court Street during this time. And there will be no access to Front Street from King Street and Court Street between 7.30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Vehicles exiting from the car park opposite Supermart on Front Street will be restricted to left turns only between the hours of 7.30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

For more information visit www.cityhall.bm.