A contractor has been appointed and a 13-week programme of work agreed for work to reopen a road which has had to be closed in Barrow.
In early October, a retaining wall partially collapsed onto the highway at Ormsgill Lane, to the north of How Tun Woods), causing a danger to the public. Westmorland and Furness Council's highways team initiated two emergency road closures and then a long-term road closure as a contingency measure.
Allison Construction has now been appointed to carry out the work. Due to the timescale for delivery of materials and proximity to Christmas, work is scheduled to start week commencing 5 January, with a 13-week programme of work, dependent on the weather, to repair the wall and reopen the road.
In the meantime, Ormsgill Lane is closed from its junction with Netherby Drive, extending in a north easterly direction for a distance of approximately 90 metres. A suitable alternative route for vehicles is available via the unrestricted sections of Ormsgill Lane, Quary Brow, Dalton Lane, Hawcoat Lane, Thorncliffe Road, Devonshire Road and Schneider Road.
Cllr Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, said: "The safety of road users remains the council’s priority and unfortunately it was necessary to close this road. Council officers have carried out a great deal of work to prepare for the work to start, including obtaining an engineering assessment, procuring a contractor and working with them to design a scheme for the repairs, and ensure this road is open again as soon as possible.
"Residents and road users in this area are aware that there have been and remain other roadworks in the Barrow area, including necessary work by utility companies. The council's streetworks team have been and continue to work with companies as much as they can to balance the need for work to be carried out with a highways network that is as open as possible."