Eight-week closure of Ironbridge Gorge footpath as boardwalk 'beyond repair'

A popular footpath in the Ironbridge Gorge will be closed for much of the summer as work gets underway to replace a boardwalk.

Residents and visitors are being advised of a temporary footpath closure at Loamhole Dingle in Coalbrookdale as Telford & Wrekin Council carries out a major project to replace the existing boardwalk.

Work begins next Monday, July 27, and is expected to take around eight weeks to complete. During this time, the route between Upper Furnace Pool and the public rights-of-way network at Jiggers Bank and Little Wenlock will be closed, with an alternative route available to users.

The boardwalk provides a vital link within the local walking network, helping people cross an area of persistently wet and boggy ground. It is heavily used by residents and visitors and features in a number of published walking guides.

The local authority said the existing structure, believed to have been installed during the 1980s or early 1990s, has “reached the end of its serviceable life”.

A spokesperson for Telford & Wrekin said: “Although repairs have been carried out over the years, the boardwalk is now beyond economical repair and requires full replacement to ensure the route remains safe and accessible in the future.

“The project will see the existing boardwalk removed and replaced with a new structure designed to provide safe and reliable access for years to come.”

Councillor Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council’s deputy leader, said: “We know this route is popular with walkers and appreciate that the temporary closure may cause some inconvenience.

“However, these essential works will deliver a brand-new boardwalk that will provide safe and reliable access for residents and visitors for many years to come.

“This significant investment will protect an important part of our walking network and help ensure people can continue to enjoy this beautiful part of the borough.”

Visitors are being asked to follow all diversion signage and site notices while the works are taking place.