Work on A646 nears completion
Monday, 12 September 2016
Work to resurface the A646 Falling Royd in Hebden Bridge is taking place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September, allowing the road to reopen to two-way traffic.
The unprecedented Storm Eva floods caused a concrete beam which supports the carriageway to slip down the hill, causing a 30 metre long crack, which required a complex engineering solution to overcome.
Although the road has remained open, such severe damage has meant that one carriageway has been unusable and the road has been reduced to one lane, controlled by temporary traffic lights, since Boxing Day 2015.
Deep piling to stabilise the hillside has now been completed and the recovery project is now at a point where the resurfacing can take place, however, for safety reasons it will be necessary to close the entire road to traffic from 11.30pm to 7am on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September.
There will be a diversion in place, which will be signed, but this is a lengthy route so motorists are advised to avoid the area if at all possible between these times. Access will be maintained for emergency services.
From Monday 19 September the road will reopen to two-way traffic at peak times. However, some off-road work still needs to be carried out, which will require temporary traffic lights. This work will be done avoiding the morning and evening busy period to cause as little disruption as possible.
Calderdale Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, Cllr Barry Collins, said, "We know that the road restrictions on this busy stretch of road have been frustrating for motorists, so I'm pleased that work will soon be complete allowing the road to fully reopen.
"The flood damage that the road suffered was exceptional, but as well as repairing the damage we've strengthened the road to make it more resilient in the future.
"This final work has been planned overnight to limit disruption as much as possible, and I'd like to thanks motorists for their patience."
Previously
HebWeb News: Repairs to A646 scheduled for this summer