Work is progressing well on repairs and reinstatement works on the A592 at High Kingate following the landslip in November.
The programme is still on track to complete and for the stretch of road - halfway between Troutbeck and the Kirkstone Inn, just before the start of the Kirkstone Pass – to be fully re-opened before the start of the main school holidays in July and peak summer season for tourists.
The programme involves infilling the landslip area and rebuilding and strengthening the banking using special steel reinforcement bars (known as soil nails) installed into the slope.
A flexible steel mesh is being applied to help stabilise the surface, followed by topsoil, seeding and erosion‑control matting, to encourage vegetation growth which will eventually cover the mesh and soil nails.
A new retaining wall faced with natural slate will replace the existing highway verge and upper embankment and the road surface and drainage will be renewed.
Work completed/ongoing since previous update:
- Design consultants and contractors are now working on site
- Site boundaries have been established, and a stock fence has been installed on the slope around the works area to ensure sheep don’t encroach on works site
- Landslip area has been infilled with a 6G aggregate and geotextile soil stabilisation
- An outfall ditch, adjacent to the slip, has been excavated and infilled with 6G aggregate and geotextile soil stabilisation
- Soil-nailing operations have started to stabilise the slope, with specialised plant equipment mobilised on site. Drilling for the soil nails has commenced and the south side of the slope has been completed, with drilling now moving to the area on the north side.
While signage warning about the A592 closure at High Kingate is already in place on routes leading to the landslip site, additional signage has now been installed at the top and bottom of The Struggle as a further measure in anticipation of increased traffic moving into the busier spring/summer period.
The signage reminds drivers about the unsuitability of The Struggle for larger vehicles and that it is a narrow, steep road with a 6’6’’ width restriction.
While the road is closed for the landslip repairs, our highways teams are taking the opportunity to carry out other maintenance/defect works on this stretch, including any drainage repairs, infilling scour voids, pothole repairs and removal of Himalayan Balsam or trees affected by Ash dieback.
More information about the project and answers to frequently asked questions about the A592 landslip works.