Landslip-prone major road's repairs finished

Work to repair a landslip-prone major route into the Ironbridge Gorge world heritage site has been finished.

Jiggers Bank in Coalbrookdale had been closed since September last year, but reopened on Thursday afternoon.

Several complications were identified during the work, said Telford and Wrekin Council, including hidden voids and narrow cracks in the rock and road.

But the project had been completed on time and budget, it said, with a 200 metre retaining wall repaired, and more than 160 rock anchors installed.

Councillor Lee Carter said repairing the route had been one of the most difficult engineering projects the council had undertaken in recent years

A total of 300 tonnes of spray concrete was applied, along with steel reinforcement.

There has also been work on the brick arches at the base of the retaining wall, said the council.

It should provide "long-term structural resilience against ongoing geological challenges," it said.

The final touches to the scheme had included cleaning and repairing drains, and upgrading signs along the route.

The road has had a long history of slippage, said the council

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.

"This has been one of the most difficult engineering projects we’ve undertaken in recent years," said Labour councillor Lee Carter, who thanked people for their patience during the work.