Following the recent closure of the B3110 Midford Road after a major landslip, it has been announced that the rectification work to re-open the road could take over a month.
The landslide, which took place on private land next to the road, is to be dealt with by the Council after they were requested by the landowner to take the necessary steps on their land in order to re-open the road at cost to them.
Some utility and engineering works are required to achieve this and need to be completed before stabilisation can be undertaken.
- Specialist contractors are needed to move telecommunications and utility cables displaced by the landslip;
- As each landslip is unique due to the gradient of the land and the local geology it is necessary to design a bespoke solution. In this case, a specialist is already designing the solution to stabilise the bank using concrete piles.
- To install the substantial concrete piles the contractor will need to drill holes though the embankment with a specialist drilling rig and cast each concrete, tube like, pile individually.
The combination of these factors means that Midford Road is unlikely to be open for at least four weeks. The Council say there is no other option as public safety is paramount and the bank must be stabilised before the road is reopened.
They are currently negotiating with the Highways Agency with the possibility of deferring the planned road closure on the A36, due to take place in the Spring, until the early Autumn.
The Council was also due to carry out a road resurfacing project at Brassknocker Hill in the coming weeks. This will go ahead from 7am – 7pm Sunday 16th February 2014, but from then on at night under a road closure (7pm – 7am) until 21st February to minimise inconvenience.
The public are urged to plan their journeys in advance and avoid these areas if at all possible.
