Council inspects reported cracks after road repair

Telford and Wrekin Council completed repairs on the road in March 2024

Telford and Wrekin Council is to investigate after a resident reported "serious concerns" about cracks along a recently repaired road into the Ironbridge Gorge.

The authority said a routine inspection would be carried out on Jiggers Bank, where a project to shore up a 200-metre retaining wall concluded in March 2024.

The resident told the council he had seen cracks almost immediately after the project, and "new cracks are forming on an almost weekly basis, most running vertically from the top of the wall to ground level."

The authority said the concrete could "accommodate these effects while maintaining overall integrity".

The six-month scheme to shore up the bank meant the road was closed from September 2023 to March 2024.

The retaining wall was repaired, more than 160 rock anchors were installed and 300 tonnes of spray concrete were applied, along with steel reinforcement.

In correspondence to the council, the resident said the wall had pulled away from the fixed boulder by around 5mm.

He added: "The newly installed fence that was plumb straight is now leaning, and the lean becomes progressively worse with each post as they move down the road.

"Concrete has broken away from the face of the nuts holding the ground anchor plates, again pointing to considerable pressure within the structure."

'Safety is a top priority'

Telford and Wrekin Council thanked residents for their "vigilance" and said the road would be inspected soon.

Richard Overton is the Labour council's deputy leader and has responsibility for highways.

He said: "Resident safety remains a top priority for Telford and Wrekin Council.

"The stabilisation project at Jiggers Bank was designed and implemented in accordance with recognised engineering standards and practices."

He added that cracking in new concrete could be expected but was not necessarily unsafe.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.