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A466 Wye Valley road closure

Upcoming Road Closure – Rock Netting, Ground Investigation and Monitoring Works – Full 24/7 Road Closure from 5th May 2026

To keep road users and the local community safe, we will be undertaking essential safety works along the A466 following significant rock falls in December 2024 and January 2026. Recent inspections have confirmed a number of areas where the rock face has deteriorated, with loose or unstable blocks present on steep slopes above the carriageway. These conditions significantly increase the risk of further rockfalls, so we must act without delay.

Why the Road Needs to Be Fully Closed

From 5th May 2026, the A466 will be fully closed 24/7 for approximately 8 weeks.
This closure is necessary because:

Our teams will be working across the full length of the affected corridor (around 5km) on steep and unstable slopes where safe access is not possible with traffic present.

Large plant, drilling rigs, rope-access teams, trenches and boreholes will be in operation along multiple sections of the road at the same time.

Rock scaling and netting installation require the work area below to be entirely clear, as loose rock may be deliberately released from height.

For these reasons, public access cannot be permitted under any circumstances until the works are complete.

Why These Works Are Needed

Site walkovers and a detailed Slope Stability Assessment have identified:

  •        Multiple rockfall hazard zones each containing loose or unstable rock blocks of varying size.
  •         Areas where the rock face has deteriorated due to weathering, undercutting and vegetation/root action.
  •         Sections of the slope where loose material poses a future risk of falling onto the carriageway.
  •         Areas of embankment instability and signs of ongoing ground movement.

To help design long-term repairs for next summer, we now need to carry out detailed ground investigations and install monitoring equipment across the most affected areas.

What We’ll Be Doing During the Closure

To reduce future disruption, we are combining all necessary safety and investigation works into this single closure. Activities will include:

Rockfall Safety Works

Rock scaling and removal of loose or unstable material from multiple hazard zones across approximately 350 metres of combined slope length.

Installation of rockfall protection netting by Vertical Technology at locations where instability has been identified.

Ground Investigation Works

We will be completing five ground investigation sites along the route, including:

  •        Boreholes
  •        Trial pits
  •        Soil/rock sampling

These will help us understand subsurface conditions and design the major remediation works planned for summer 2027.

 

Monitoring Installation

Installation of slope‑monitoring equipment at priority locations to track ongoing ground movement and inform long‑term safety management.

By carrying out all these activities together during one closure, we minimise the need for further closures later in the year.

Diversion Route

A signed diversion will be in place for the full duration of the works. Please allow extra time for your journey.