Rugby road re-shut amid fears over 'damaging vehicles'
- Published
Hillmorton Lane has been closed for another four weeks
A road has been shut hours after it reopened following three months of roadworks amid concerns the new layout is damaging vehicles.
Locals claim vehicles have been "grounded" on the stretch of Hillmorton Lane, near Rugby, after a new junction was built on the steep hill.
A local resident said his suspension "crunched hard" on the surface.
Warwickshire County Council admitted "alignment may potentially have been damaging to the vehicles".
New construction and resurfacing works will mean the road will be closed for at least a month.
The decision comes after traffic had been halted for 12 weeks when the junction was built.
The council said it was working with contractors to fix gradient issues on the stretch, which connects Rugby link road to Hillmorton Lane and The Kent.
A view from The Kent side of the roadworks
A spokeswoman said: "Upon opening the road, and subjecting it to normal conditions, it came to light that there was an issue with its alignment which may potentially have been damaging to the vehicles of road users.
"The county council approved the closure of the road for a further four weeks to enable remedial work to be carried out."
A van driver, who lives close to the developed site, told the BBC: "The angle is so high, like 45 degrees, it's nearly ripping your bumper off.
"The suspension crunched hard. It didn't feel safe."
A spokesman for Galliford Try Infrastructure, which constructed the junction, added: "We're aware of the issues with the Rugby link road and are currently working with our client, Warwickshire County Council, to resolve them."
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