Elland Road in Brighouse is likely to remain closed for between 6 months and a year to allow for significant works to take place.
A large crack appeared in the road on Monday 24 February, around the junction with Park Road, by Ash Grove Pipeworks, requiring the road to be completely closed.
Initial investigations have shown that this has been caused by a landslip as the ground has become saturated following the extensive rainfall over recent weeks and months.
Further movement of the ground has taken place in the last few days, indicating the ground is not yet dry enough to stabilise naturally. This means that temporary measures to address the movement have not been possible.
Investigations are continuing to determine the best course of action to repair the road, with a number of possible solutions being looked at – all of which require a significant amount of engineering work.
As such, it’s likely that the road will remain closed for the foreseeable future, with an estimated timescale of around 6 to 12 months.
The work is also likely to be costly, with early indications suggesting that repair costs are likely to be in the region of around £2.5million. The Council is continuing to seek funding from the Government to assist with the recovery for this and other storm related infrastructure damage.
Calderdale Council’s Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure, Steven Lee, said:
“We apologise for the inconvenience this closure may be causing. Unfortunately the damage to Elland Road, caused by the extensive and prolonged rainfall, is serious and requires a lengthy closure.
“We’re doing all we can to find the appropriate repair solution, but until the ground dries out and settles, we’re unable to thoroughly investigate and determine the best course of action.
“We’re currently working on a timescale of between 6 months and a year, to ensure that we have enough time to repair, reconstruct and reopen the road. However, the length of the closure period will be refined once site investigation is complete.”