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A31 to reopen following New Forest wildfire closure
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- The A31 dual carriageway near Ringwood, closed for nearly two weeks due to a wildfire sparked by a van fire on 9 August, is set to reopen Saturday morning.
- The wildfire destroyed approximately 1.6 sq km of heathland, prompting a major incident declaration and extensive repair work on the road.
- National Highways completed resurfacing, installed 800m of new safety barriers, and replaced 1,500m of boundary fencing to ensure safety, especially protecting free-roaming animals in the New Forest.
- The road will reopen with a 40mph speed limit eastbound and a 50mph limit westbound, with lane closures and temporary protections in place until permanent repairs are made.
- Lay-bys remain closed, and some repairs will continue overnight to facilitate safe fire service access and finalize restoration.
