Essential works to a County Durham road have reached the next key phase of construction.
Durham County Council closed the B6300, Browney Lane at Burnigill Bank, in July, to allow for repairs to slippage next to the East Coast Mainline, which runs adjacent to the road.
The slippage resulted in extensive subsidence, causing the road to become cracked and damaged, with major repair works required to provide a safe surface for all vehicles to use.
Following Esh Construction being appointed as the main contractor, excavation of the damaged road surface took place over the summer.
Since then, 184 concrete piles have been installed up to 18 metres below the existing road level to stabilise the ground. The piles have now been completed on the eastern and western retaining walls, marking a key milestone in the project.
Five reinforced concrete capping beams will be installed before the full road re-construction gets underway.
Cllr John Shuttleworth, Cabinet member for rural communities, highways and community safety, said: “We are really pleased to be making good progress with these works at Burnigill Bank. We know that it is an important link to the A167 for our businesses and residents but these repairs are essential for safety.
“I would like to thank everyone for their continued patience during the project. We look forward to being able to open the road with work currently due for completion early next year.”
Steve Garrigan, divisional director at Esh Construction, said: “We have encountered a number of challenges since commencing work on site in July due to difficult ground conditions and continued ground movement.
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“However, working alongside our subcontractor, we are pleased to have overcome these challenges and have made substantial progress to complete the pile installation phase.”
The current schedule is for the retaining wall construction to be completed later this year, with re-construction of the carriageway planned to be completed early next year.
For more details on the repairs and planned diversions, residents can visit www.durham.gov.uk.burnigill
