People can now get a behind-the-scenes look at the landslip repair work on the A431 Kelston Road in a video from the Council’s highway maintenance contractor Skanska.
The extensive repair works have now reached their second phase – with huge piling rigs due to move on-site and drill down as far as 15 metres below the existing ground surface to fill it with concrete foundations, in stronger stable ground, to support the road.
The exclusive video shows footage of excavators cutting a series of steps (known as benches) into the hillside below the road, and installing a platform on top that will support the equipment needed to bore the concrete piles for the permanent repair.
The video can be viewed via the Council’s dedicated information pages on its website: www.bathnes.gov.uk/kelston.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said: “We’re keen to let people see the excellent progress we’re making on the permanent repairs to the Kelston Road, so we encourage people to check out the video which offers first-hand accounts of the story so far.
“Bath & North East Somerset Council’s priority has always been to achieve a permanent solution which means we need not suffer such problems in the future. We are committed to keeping the public informed and we plan to release further video updates as the scheme progresses.”
The Council is working continually with its highway maintenance contractor Skanska on the project until completion so that the road can be reopened before Christmas.
Installing the piling platform was no mean feat as it required around 15,000 cubic metres of stone to be delivered to the site.
That’s enough stone to fill six Olympic size swimming pools. The stone has been locally sourced from the Mendip Hills – keeping cost and delivery time to a minimum – and it will be recycled afterwards.
Simon White, business director, Skanska said: “The piling ‘rigs’ are big and heavy pieces of equipment so this platform is vital to provide a strong, stable and level platform from which they, and their supporting plant, can safely and efficiently operate.
“Crucially the project is ensuring that this is not simply a short term solution to reopen the road but a long term stabilisation approach that will ensure the resilience of the failed section for decades ahead.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council is committed to ensuring the scheme is delivered in the shortest possible time.
The Council has asked all utility companies to complete any planned work on the Kelston Road during the road closure period in order to avoid any disruption after the works are completed.
Cllr Crossley added: “We have every sympathy with road users, residents and businesses affected by the Kelston Road closure. We are working hard to ensure that the repair works carried out are as effective, efficient and practical as possible.”
The extensive repair work falls into four main categories:
- Construct the temporary works to enable access for all the equipment and materials – completed.
- Drill and construct deep concrete piles – commencing 29th September.
- Rebuild the road, improve the drainage and resurface the road.
- Remove the equipment and reinstate the adjacent land. (To ensure the road reopens at the earliest opportunity, some ground reinstatement will be programmed for after the road reopens.)
The engineering work is designed to deliver an optimum scheme which is capable of handling the area’s traffic in all weather conditions and be completed in the shortest practical time for a permanent solution.