ONE week after the Wallbridge/Merrywalks diversion was introduced in Stroud, Gloucestershire County Council is extremely pleased with how things are going.

On Tuesday, July 20 the £1.8million A46 Merrywalks bridge introduced the diversion to carry traffic while contractors build the new bridge.

The work has been timed to coincide with the school summer holidays so there will be less traffic on the roads.

Aside from some minor teething problems on the first day, traffic has been flowing freely most of the time.

Following feedback some adjustments to the diversion have been made.

In particular, both approach lanes to Merrywalks roundabout from Merrywalks and Cheapside have been reopened.

The double mini roundabouts have been altered so that they now operate as a single roundabout to help traffic flow more easily.

This week a temporary dam will be constructed on the canal just east of the bridge site and the area will be drained.