Shropshire Star

Early finish for Ironbridge Gorge works after road is stabilised

A road in the Ironbridge Gorge that was closed for temporary stabilisation work to be carried out to stabilise was today reopening three weeks earlier than planned.

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The temporary stabilisation work along the The Lloyds road, between Jackfield and Coalport, has been completed ahead of schedule.

The road was being reopened this afternoon, meaning traffic will be able to flow freely through the Gorge during the Easter holidays. But the route will close again in mid-April for two weeks to resurface the highway and footpath.

The road was closed three weeks ago for the stabilisation work, which included sinking 20 piles to a depth of 12 metres through the landslide and into the stable rock beneath. Telford & Wrekin councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet lead for land stability in the Ironbridge Gorge, said the work would give short-term protection to The Lloyds but was not designed to address The Lloyds Coppice landslide as a whole, because further funding was currently not available.

He said: "I am delighted that we have been able to reopen the road ahead of the Easter holidays and I know that is something that local residents will welcome. I would like to say a big thank you to the team that has worked on stabilising The Lloyds roadas they've put in a big effort to get the road re-opened ahead of schedule.

"There is still a bigger project that needs to happen to properly halt the Lloyds Coppice landslide and we will continue to lobby government to provide more funding for this to be done.

"However, at least in the short to medium term we have now secured the road and I would also like to thank residents for their patience while the road has been closed."

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