The A31 reopened to motorists last Saturday after a wildfire caused ‘substantial' damage, forcing National Highways to make major emergency repairs.
A van fire on the A31 near Ringwood at the beginning of this month ended up spreading and causing the destruction of roughly 1.6sq km of heathland, leading to the route between Bournemouth and Southampton being closed for two weeks and a major incident to be declared.
The wildfire meant that the strategic road authority had to resurface the carriageway, install 800 metres of new safety barriers and replace 1,500 metres of boundary fencing.
Kat Saradinova, National Highways' head of scheme delivery, said: ‘With the fire raging for over a week, the repairs required were substantial and the conditions challenging.
‘Our work to replace the damaged fencing to stop animals getting onto the A31 has been essential for the safe opening of the road. The New Forest is home to thousands of free-roaming animals, and a collision would put road users as well as livestock at risk.'
While the road is now open for use again, a 40mph temporary speed limit will remain in place on the eastbound carriageway as there are still temporary protections around parapets and safety barriers that were damaged by the fire. National Highways stated that permanent repairs will be carried out ‘at a later date' under overnight closures.
Lane 1 will remain closed on the westbound carriageway under a temporary 50mph speed limit to allow fire services to safely exit their compound during their ‘continued presence on site'. Lay-bys will also remain closed.
