Work on landslip-prone road set to end by Easter

Jiggers Bank has been closed for essential work since September

Work to repair a major route into the Ironbridge Gorge world heritage site is on target to be finished by the end of March.

The landslip-prone Jiggers Bank in Coalbrookdale was closed for essential repair work in September last year.

Telford and Wrekin Council said a number of collapses and voids had been discovered and said the work would ensure the road is safe for years to come.

Speaking to BBC Radio Shropshire, Matt Day, the authority's principal bridge engineer, said workers had one section of wall left to replace before they start resurfacing 650m of the road.

He said they were aiming to have the work finished before Easter and gave a target date of 28 March.

“There’s a lot of work to go… and there are still some risks in terms of voids but that’s the date we’re aiming for,” Mr Day said.

“Fingers crossed everything goes well… I think we’d have done well to meet that date. Let’s try and make it happen.”

Engineer Matt Day said he appreciated people's patience during the closure

As well as replacing sections of the 200-year-old wall, the work has included the installation of about 160 support rock anchors and the repair of several brick arches at the base.

The road, originally constructed as a single lane tramway in the 1700s, had previously been closed for work because of landslips in 2015 and 2013.

It is a key route used by people living and working near the gorge and Mr Day said he appreciated their patience.

He said: “It’s important to people and it is an inconvenience the road being closed.”

“I know it’s a struggle, I know it’s a pain but it had to happen,” he added.