Works starts on bridging pothole in Ironbridge Gorge road
Work has started to build a bridge on stilts to allow motorists to negotiate a pothole caused by former clay mines in the Ironbridge Gorge.
Contractors McPhillips are putting the first steps in place to stabilise the area around the hole, which appeared on Ironbridge Road in Jackfield, on Boxing Day.
Workers are sinking more than 70 steel tubular piles to a depth of 11 metres through the soft soils beneath the road. Once the piles are installed, the concrete slab forming the top of the bridge will be cast and the road then rebuilt on top.
The hole was caused by workings in the underlying clay mines collapsing below the road and weakening the surrounding soils.
Because of the way the collapse had happened, finding a solution has proved particularly difficult for engineers. Due to the complicated nature of the pothole and the soft ground below, the hole cannot simply be filled.
It is hoped that the road will be reopened to traffic by mid-August.
The proposed solution was outlined at a drop-in session in Jackfield six weeks ago.
In the meantime, traffic will continue to be diverted through Jackfield and Coalport until the work is completed.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet lead for land stability issues, said: "We realise that a scheme to repair the damage to the road has been a long time in coming and I realise that local people have been frustrated by that.
"I would like to thank everybody for their patience but I hope people understand that it is extremely important that the solution that is devised is both safe and sustainable.
"The council's engineers have spend a lot of time working on a scheme which will mean the road can be used again and I am delighted that we are now at a point where work can start in earnest."
