Burnigill Bank road reopens

Cllr John Shuttleworth, Anthea Smith, Durham County Council's highways services manager, and David Player, contracts manager at Esh Construction

We have reopened the B6300 Browney Lane at Burnigill Bank, after it was closed in July for essential repairs to the embankment next to the East Coast Mainline.

Landslips within the embankment created extensive subsidence, causing the adjacent road to become cracked and damaged, with major repair works needed to provide a safe surface for all vehicles to use.

Civil engineering works

Over the last six months, Esh Construction has been carrying out civil engineering works on our behalf to excavate the damaged road surface and install 184 concrete foundations up to 18 metres below the existing road level to stabilise the carriageway.

Five reinforced beams were installed before the carriageway was reinstated. In addition, surface water drainage, kerbs, safety barrier and fencing have been reinstated.

The road re-opened to traffic in December following the final carriageway surfacing, whilst some verge reconstruction works were completed in January.

Transport link

Cllr John Shuttleworth, Cabinet member for rural communities, highways, and community safety, said: "We are pleased to have now fully reopened Burnigill Bank after the very essential work to ensure the road was safe to use following the landslip.

"We know this route is an important link for residents and businesses, so we would like to thank everyone for their patience while these necessary works were carried out."

Scheme delivered

Steven Garrigan, divisional director at Esh Construction, said: "This was a very challenging scheme to deliver due to difficult ground conditions, continued ground movement and poor weather conditions. However, working collaboratively with our client, the designers and our subcontractors we were delighted to overcome these challenges and re-open the road as programmed before the new year.

"As a local contractor we committed to procuring local supply and labour, as such 70 per cent of the project value was re-invested within 30 miles of the site."