Water Lane in Shrewsbury retaining wall repairs to begin

Work to repair the riverside wall which supports Water Lane alongside the River Severn in Shrewsbury is scheduled to start on Monday 17 June 2013 and is expected to last for a period of about 10 weeks. 

This part of Water Lane was closed for safety reasons in May 2012 on an emergency basis after part of the riverside wall collapsed due to flood-related damage. 

The proposed repair will involve installing a new sheet pile wall in front of a length of approximately 30 metres of the old riverside wall.  Ground anchors will then be installed to help support the new wall before its top is encased in structural concrete. 

Contrary to previous indications, it is no longer proposed to carry out the work from a pontoon floating on the river. Instead, the contractor will be working from a temporary platform which he is proposing to build in the river alongside the collapsed wall. 

It is proposed that access to the site will be gained from New Street via the access to Quarry View.  As a safety precaution, the contractor will provide a person to guide all construction related between the site and New Street. 

In addition to replacing the collapsed length of wall, the proposed work will include carrying out masonry repairs to the rest of the wall.  These defects, which have been identified by means of an inspection carried out by a diving contractor, are generally minor in nature. 

Until the repair is complete, users of Water Lane will continue to be diverted via New Street. 

The work will be carried out by Jones Brothers Civil Engineering of Ruthin, who will be supervised by the council’s term contract consultant Mouchel. 

It is estimated that the work will cost approximately £250,000. 

Claire Wild, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: 

‘‘It is appreciated that the continued closure of this part of Water Lane is causing some inconvenience, and all involved in the repair will do all that they reasonably can to complete the work as soon as possible.” 

Anne Chebsey, local Shropshire Councillor for Porthill, said:

“I am pleased that the repairs are finally starting, as many residents use this route into town.  Hopefully it will all run to time and stay within budget.”