Main Ironbridge Gorge road to reopen after landslides

Major work has been ongoing at Jiggers Bank since it was closed in November, causing a headache for residents and business owners.

McPhillips engineers have been carrying out emergency safety works, to stabilise the rock face.

The work has cost around £400,000, with landowners the Homes and Communities Agency picking up most of the bill.

The work is nearing completion and the road is due to be re-opened in mid-July.

Project manager Neal Rushton said the job was much more complex than first thought. "When we first looked there were a handful of rocks on the carriageway. Within 24 hours a more substantial fall had happened.

"It wasn't until we did a trial excavation that the extent of the problem became apparent. The priority had to be making the rock face safe. Minor work will be required in the future, but it should now be stable in the long term."

During the work unrecorded Ironstone mine workings were unearthed and have now been surveyed.

Jiggers Bank is the main route into Ironbridge and the museums which draw thousands of visitors every year.

Telford & Wrekin councillor David Davies, ward member for Ironbridge Gorge, said he would be relieved to see the road back open.

"It's been a pain," he said. "It's a big access issue and of course people have been using other roads instead which aren't suitable for a lot of traffic, like Cherry Tree Hill.

"It's been very inconvenient for residents and visitors to the museum."