The weir path is open again, after a few days, and the notices have been updated to confirm this. It looks as though it was closed only as long as necessary for safety.
Meanwhile, the road by St Helen’s Wharf remains shut, but progress has been made: the new yellow plastic gas main has been laid, and the trenches have been backfilled. There are just a few inches left at the surface, waiting to be finished with tarmac.
So one route has returned to normal, the other is a work in progress but should be finished soon.
The closure of the road is very clearly signposted. ROAD AHEAD CLOSED or something similar. I have now seen three drivers assume it will not apply to them, including a BMW driver today who drove past the Anchor and up from the wharf to the roadworks. It is good reversing practice for them once they reach the barriers and realise that yes, the road is indeed closed.
Walking to town today, along St. Helen’s wharf, a car and a van ignored the road closed signs and walking home, another car ignored the signs.