Work to stabilise Weymouth cliffs begins
Old Castle Road suffered a landslip earlier this year.
Specialist engineering wok is beginning to prevent a road in Weymouth from crumbling away.
Piles are being installed on private land off Old Castle Road in Weymouth to prevent further landslips.
It's after a landslip earlier this year caused concerns about the road's integrity. A report revealed the landslip was caused by natural rainwater drainage through the land.
This is where nearby inland rainfall soaks through more permeable layers of material until it finds clay, it then runs along the surface of this clay layer downhill towards the cliff.
This first phase of piling will enable building on the land to continue safely – with the slope being fully stabilised as part of the development process.
The work will involve installing a set of closely spaced, bored piles with small gaps between them. This close spacing forms a wall to retain the ground, while the gaps allow water to drain through – an essential feature in this location where any interruption to the drainage path of groundwater could cause further instability.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“This is really positive progress and I’m hopeful that it will reassure local residents of the continued access along Old Castle Road.
“This significant step forward has been, in large, down to the site owner’s willingness to talk openly with us about his plans, so that we can work together to achieve a common goal.”
Installation of the piles is being carried out by the landowner with the support of Dorset Council, with the work taking place before the worst of the winter weather arrives.
The current temporary traffic lights will remain in place and the road will continue to be single width until the slope is fully stabilised as part of construction on the land.