Pupils from Grayrigg CE Primary School have been given a first-hand look at major engineering works taking place on their doorstep.
A group of children from the school were invited on a site visit to see the engineering works to repair storm damage and strengthen flood resilience on a section of the A685 near Grayrigg.
Cumbria County Council is investing approximately £650,000 in the surfacing and drainage works as part of the council’s Infrastructure Recovery Programme. Eric Wright Civil Engineering (EWCE) was appointed as the main contractor to carry out the works on behalf of the county council.
EWCE Learning Foundation staff visited the school to talk about site safety and the potential dangers of plant and machinery operating on site. A group of 24 children from the school, with staff and parent helpers, were then taken along the A685 under a vehicle escort with flashing beacons to visit the works site.
Watching from a safe distance, they observed operations on site, including diggers filling a large dumper truck with aggregate as part of the works to repair a slope damaged by floods.
Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Highways, said: “We were delighted to show the children what was happening on site so they could see the scale of the works taking place. This is a significant engineering project which is designed to make the road more flood resilient in the future.”
Grayrigg CE Primary School headteacher Kirsty Cooper said: “We’d like to thank Cumbria County Council for inviting our children to see the roadworks. It was great for them to see some real engineering in action and the visit has definitely inspired them.”
Work started on Wednesday 11 September on the next phase of major engineering works to repair storm damage and strengthen flood resilience on a section of the A685 near Grayrigg. This involves installing 180 metres of kerb-drains and two gullies to capture rainwater on the carriageway and pipe down a slope to the adjacent Thursgill Beck. These works will ensure the slope does not become saturated and prevent future failure of the slope. The works are scheduled to take five weeks to complete.
