The temporary road closure at this site in Northleach began in December 2015 following a geotechnical inspection int
o increased cracking in the carriageway.
Following this inspection the road was closed due to the severity of the defect in the wal
l retaining the highway, the resultant risk of its failure and the safety of the travelling public. However, the council is not applying for an indefinite road closure to ‘stop up’ the highway in this location.
In 2019, a single lane of the carriageway was re-opened to light vehicles as the dry summer gave confidence that the risk of further deterioration to the road was lower.
Following the heavy rain of September 2019 and a further inspection of the carriageway, sudden severe deterioration was observed and an emergency road closure was implemented on 4th October 2019.
The site is routinely monitored and has been entered into our forward programme of geotechnical works.
Schemes of this nature are complex, our engineers need to understand the detailed geology of the site and where the movement is occurring to advise on the most suitable solution.
The council are taking all the necessary steps to resolve the situation but defects such as this do take considerable time to fix. Although it is not anticipated that the road will be re-opened in the immediate future it is our intention that a solution will be implemented that will fully restore the road and resolve the issues that have led to the failure in this location.
The initial temporary closure started in December 2015 after an inspection into increased cracking noted in the carriageway. The road was closed due to the severity of the defect in the wall retaining the highway, the resultant risk of its failure and the safety of the travelling public.
We understand that the closure is causing local concern, but it is not intended to be the permanent solution.
The initial temporary closure started in December 2015 after an inspection into increased cracking noted in the carriageway. The road was closed due to the severity of the defect in the wall retaining the highway, the resultant risk of its failure and the safety of the travelling public.
We understand that the closure is causing local concern, but it is not intended to be the permanent solution.
Fixing these types of road faults is complicated - the engineers need to understand the detailed geology of the site and where the movement is taking place to advise on the most suitable way to fix the problem.
A ground investigation was completed in February 2017, this gave us the information to help us understand where and how the failure is happening. This is a specialist survey which unfortunately took time to arrange and complete.
In 2019, a single lane of the carriageway was re-opened to light vehicles as the dry summer gave confidence that the risk of further deterioration to the road was lower.
Following the heavy rain of September 2019 and a further inspection of the carriageway, sudden severe deterioration was observed and an emergency road closure was implemented on 4th October 2019.
Fixing these types of road faults is complicated - the engineers need to understand the detailed geology of the site and where the movement is taking place to advise on the most suitable way to fix the problem.
A ground investigation was completed in February 2017, this gave us the information to help us understand where and how the failure is happening. This is a specialist survey which unfortunately took time to arrange and complete.
In 2019, a single lane of the carriageway was re-opened to light vehicles as the dry summer gave confidence that the risk of further deterioration to the road was lower.
Following the heavy rain of September 2019 and a further inspection of the carriageway, sudden severe deterioration was observed and an emergency road closure was implemented on 4th October 2019.
A ground investigation was carried out in February 2017.
The ground investigation indicated that the foundations of the retaining wall are on soft land. Ground water has been found at about 1 metre below the base of the retaining wall. These observations indicate that the failure is likely to be close to the surface, but beneath the foundations of the wall as opposed to a failure behind the retaining wall itself.
The ground investigation included the drilling of boreholes to find out the condition of the ground and to install monitoring equipment to measure ground movements. The monitoring will continue to so we can work out exactly what is going on and get on with the detailed design of the repair work needed.
A ground investigation was carried out in February 2017.
The ground investigation indicated that the foundations of the retaining wall are on soft land. Ground water has been found at about 1 metre below the base of the retaining wall. These observations indicate that the failure is likely to be close to the surface, but beneath the foundations of the wall as opposed to a failure behind the retaining wall itself.
The ground investigation included the drilling of boreholes to find out the condition of the ground and to install monitoring equipment to measure ground movements. The monitoring will continue to so we can work out exactly what is going on and get on with the detailed design of the repair work needed.
The temporary road closure currently in place is due to the significant defect in the retaining wall supporting the carriageway. The council is not applying for an indefinite road closure to ‘stop up’ the highway in this location.
The temporary road closure currently in place is due to the significant defect in the retaining wall supporting the carriageway. The council is not applying for an indefinite road closure to ‘stop up’ the highway in this location.
The county council are taking all the necessary steps to fix the problem but faults like this do take considerable time to repair. Although we do not think the road will be re-opened in the near future it is our intention that the solution we come up with will fully re-open the road and solve the issues that have lead to the failure in this location.
At present we are planning to begin the construction work to repair the site in Spring 2020 however, work of this type is prioritised and so is subject to change.
The county council are taking all the necessary steps to fix the problem but faults like this do take considerable time to repair. Although we do not think the road will be re-opened in the near future it is our intention that the solution we come up with will fully re-open the road and solve the issues that have lead to the failure in this location.
At present we are planning to begin the construction work to repair the site in Spring 2020 however, work of this type is prioritised and so is subject to change.
The county currently has a number of landslips on major roads and it is necessary to prioritise available funding to fix these. The forward programme of projects of this type (‘geotechnical schemes’) is prioritised based on the risk of failures, measured land movement, the class of road and the inconvenience of the diversion.
The county currently has a number of landslips on major roads and it is necessary to prioritise available funding to fix these. The forward programme of projects of this type (‘geotechnical schemes’) is prioritised based on the risk of failures, measured land movement, the class of road and the inconvenience of the diversion.
Significant work has been programmed ahead of Prison Copse Wall (‘The Old A40’) - for example the A46 at Coopers Hill, and the A435 at Charlton Hill.
These landslip sites are all on very much busier sections of the road network considered economic lifelines for the county and of strategic importance - any alternative diversions for these sites are extremely disruptive.
We understand that the road closure has caused inconvenience to local residents, however the diversion in place is relatively minor and minimal properties are affected.
The road currently closed was previously recorded as carrying less than 400 vehicles per day which is a very low volume of traffic compared with the higher priority schemes:-
Significant work has been programmed ahead of Prison Copse Wall (‘The Old A40’) - for example the A46 at Coopers Hill, and the A435 at Charlton Hill.
These landslip sites are all on very much busier sections of the road network considered economic lifelines for the county and of strategic importance - any alternative diversions for these sites are extremely disruptive.
We understand that the road closure has caused inconvenience to local residents, however the diversion in place is relatively minor and minimal properties are affected.
The road currently closed was previously recorded as carrying less than 400 vehicles per day which is a very low volume of traffic compared with the higher priority schemes:-
The budget available annually for ‘geotechnical’ work is £1million and this means that on average only two large projects of this type a year are completed.
The budget available annually for ‘geotechnical’ work is £1million and this means that on average only two large projects of this type a year are completed.
Unfortunately the area of failure of the road includes both lanes and if a catastrophic failure occurred it would affect the whole road.
Unfortunately the area of failure of the road includes both lanes and if a catastrophic failure occurred it would affect the whole road.
We need to make sure that all roads are inspected and safety standards are met so it is essential that the maintenance of local roads continues.
We need to make sure that all roads are inspected and safety standards are met so it is essential that the maintenance of local roads continues.
We need to make sure that all roads are inspected and safety standards are met so it is essential that the maintenance of local roads continues.
We need to make sure that all roads are inspected and safety standards are met so it is essential that the maintenance of local roads continues.