Investigation work to begin at Water Lane in Shrewsbury

Ground investigation work has started at Water Lane in Shrewsbury yesterday (Tuesday 10 July 2012) and is expected to last for a period of about four days. 

The work will take place at each end of that length of the lane which was closed in May 2012 on an emergency basis after part of the riverside wall was found to be collapsing. 

The work, which will involve sinking a borehole near each end of the existing collapse, is required to provide engineers with enough information about the underlying soils to enable them to design a new riverside wall. 

Because the form of the new wall cannot be confirmed until the ground investigation results are known, it is too early to be able to give an accurate indication of how long the lane will need to remain closed for.  However, it is currently estimated that it will have to remain closed until summer 2013. 

The reason for predicting that the lane will have to remain closed until summer 2013 is that there is unlikely to be enough time to design and build the new wall before the beginning of October 2012 when the Environment Agency’s ban on winter working begins. 

Until the lane can be reopened, pedestrians and cyclists are being diverted via Frankwell. 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for this work, said:

“It is appreciated that the closure of the lane may be causing some inconvenience, and all involved will do all that they can to design and build the replacement wall as soon as reasonably possible.” 

Anne Chebsey, Shropshire Councillor for Porthill, said:

“I am glad that the council are now looking into repairing the river wall, and it is just as well that the repairs on the Porthill Bridge have been completed so that pedestrians and cyclists have access through The Quarry.  Although the closure of the lane is an inconvenience, I know that everyone understands how important it is to fully investigate the damage before commencing with any work to the wall.  Hopefully the council will progress with the repairs as soon as it is feasible.”