Wessex Water has issued an update on the progress of major roadworks that have dug up a Wiltshire Market Place.

The utilities firm started work in Devizes Market Place in August, a year after it launched its £2 million project to upgrade the town’s water supply by replacing ageing cast-iron pipes with plastic water mains.

Over a month later, the section of the project has since seen multiple parts of the car park and the northern carriageway fenced off while work is carried out.

Wessex Water confirmed that these works remain on schedule, and it is expected that the Market Place section of the scheme will conclude at the end of October, after around 10 weeks.

In the meantime, Wessex Water is working with businesses and residents in the area to try and minimise the impact of the significant works where possible.

READ MORE: Boost for town centre businesses as roadworks schedule overhauled

Roadworks in Devizes Market PlaceRoadworks in Devizes Market Place (Image: Trevor Porter) A spokesperson said: “The Market Place phase of our £2 million water main replacement project remains on schedule to be completed at the end of October and we've been working closely with customers and Devizes Town Council, including pausing our work to ensure events such as the Carnival and Confetti Battle during September were able to take place unimpeded.”

Once work in the Market Place is wrapped up, crews will be moving to a number of locations off the main town centre area, in order to prevent disruption in the build-up to Christmas.

This will be followed by work in Wine Street and High Street in early 2025, as Wessex Water aims to complete the current phase of the scheme by March.

The details of the remaining parts of the project are yet to be confirmed.

The latest schedule for the roadworksThe latest schedule for the roadworks (Image: Wessex Water) A spokesperson added: “As previously outlined, we'll be completing work in Station Road, Castle Place, and Morris Lane in the run-up to Christmas to ensure local businesses can enjoy a festive trading period free of major disruption, before completing sections in Wine Street and High Street from early in the new year to the scheme finish in mid-March.

“We'll shortly be writing to customers locally to inform them about the end of the Market Place work and next phases of the project.”

The decision to reschedule town centre roadworks to avoid clashing with the busiest time of the year for retailers was made following discussions with Devizes Town Council and the Federation of Small Businesses.