Specialist technical consultants have been appointed to determine the best way to repair a significant Lake District landslip.
The landslip, on November 5, forced an emergency closure of part of the A592 at High Kingate, around halfway between Troutbeck and the Kirkstone Inn, just before the start of Kirkstone Pass.
Westmorland and Furness Council said it had used emergency procurement processes to move quickly to engage the expert consultants, so work could start as soon as possible on the complex project to reopen the route.
It said the next stage will be to carry out surveys and ground investigations to determine the best way to reach the site of the landslip and assess ground conditions, so the work can be safely carried out on the narrow, restricted site, which has steep banking above and below.
The landslip, caused by heavy rainfall, has partly undermined the carriageway.
The authority’s early assessments, it said, suggested that the constraints of the site and the winter weather conditions meant carrying out the repairs would be challenging and would take several months to complete.
It added that now specialist consultants were appointed, it was hoped a more detailed timetable can be confirmed once they have completed their own investigations and made recommendations on the potential repair methods.
Barriers have been installed to prevent people trying to use the closed section, while continuing to allow farmers and local landowners access to their fields.
Measures have also already been taken to try to stabilise the ground and divert water away from the landslip site to prevent further collapse.
Signs advising of the closure and the designated diversion routes have been put in place along all main routes leading up to the A592.
Towns and villages either side of the closure are still fully accessible via the diversions and nowhere is cut off.
In addition to the regular signs, six electronic matrix signs have been brought into the area to support messaging about the closure and that local businesses are still accessible.
Matrix signs have been placed at the top and bottom of The Struggle – a steep and narrow local road that runs from Ambleside to the top of Kirkstone Pass.
For the official diversion routes around the landslip closure the council can only sign along main routes, that can be accessed by the majority of vehicles.
The Struggle does not form part of the official diversion route as it has a 6ft 6in width restriction and not suitable for larger vehicles, especially in poor weather/winter conditions.
A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesman said: “The council recognises that many locals will continue to use this route during the emergency closure and gritting teams will be treating The Struggle during the winter months during daylight hours only, to maintain this link between communities either side of the landslip.
“However, the council is not promoting The Struggle as an alternative route and drivers are reminded that this road will be challenging and potentially impassable in the winter months.
“The additional matrix signs at the top and bottom of The Struggle will carry messages about width restrictions and the unsuitability of the route for larger vehicles.
“The signs will also advise when gritters are treating the route, asking drivers to wait until the gritting wagon has completed its run to avoid the risk of blocking the road.
“For the same reason, drivers are also requested to not use designated passing places on The Struggle for parking or for overnight stays.”
Utility companies have a legal right to undertake works on the council’s road network, but the council manages and co-ordinates works through a permit system to try to minimise disruption. The council doesn’t have the power to ‘ban’ all works on the road network in the area around the A592 closure and urgent works – for example to repair a water or gas leak – may still need to be carried out by utility companies.
The council has contacted utility companies to advise them of the landslip issue and to ask them to consider postponing or rescheduling routine or pre-planned works on the diversion route while the A592 closure is in place to avoid further pressure on these routes. The council itself is also looking to reschedule any planned routine works on these parts of the network.
Wherever possible, the council will look to ensure any urgent or essential works that have to be carried out at this time will be done under traffic light controls rather than full closures to minimise further disruption.
Local parish councils and businesses are being updated on the landslip works and the council is working with Cumbria Tourism to help promote the message that areas around the closure, including Kirkstone Pass itself and villages in the Ullswater Valley, are still accessible and very much still ‘open for business’.ENDS
