The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed that specialist ground engineering work, that could lead to the full re-opening of Leeson Road at Ventnor, will begin on 9 September.
Work will start on that date in sinking the first of three boreholes to help build a picture of the area’s geology following the catastrophic landslip in December last year.
The ground investigation will take core samples of the rock layers which can then be assessed and recorded by geological engineers.
The process will also allow various monitoring equipment to be installed which will be able to record any ground movement and also water levels which are a key driver of ground movement.
The boreholes are thought to be the deepest ever sunk on the Island at around 110-metres deep.
Data from the new equipment within them will complement that already being taken from other apparatus already installed across the site to give the best possible picture of ongoing movement and the risk of further landslips.
All this information will help work by the Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads to develop and maintain an early warning system that will allow the road to re-open but shut immediately if significant movement is detected.
The information will also be used to help geo-scientists and engineers understand the unique ground formation across the wider 12 kilometres of the Undercliff area which is North Western Europe’s largest urban landslide system.
The council, Island Roads, Ventnor Town Council and geological experts, Jacobs, met with representatives from local residents' groups last month to discuss the proposed works.
Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning, said:
“While all this information will help our long-term understanding of both Leeson Road and the wider area, it will also give us the short-term information necessary to install the early warning system that will allow us to re-open Leeson Road without ongoing traffic management."
Michelle Love, service director for highways and community protection, added:
“We know how important it is to keep Leeson Road open and that has always been the aim.
"What we have needed is the accurate real-time data for us to be able to do that safely. These boreholes – and the equipment that will be installed within them – will give us the information we need.
“Naturally we cannot give any guarantees until the latest data can be analysed but we are hopeful this work will prove a crucial step in the safe re-opening of Leeson Road."
In order for work to start on Monday September 9, the road will be closed from 10pm on Sunday, 8 September. The aim is to reopen the road by Christmas.
Island Roads and the council will work proactively with utility companies to ensure the level of roadworks around the Ventnor area are kept to a minimum while Leeson Road is closed.
This will exclude emergency works which need to take place in the interests of public safety.
Further Information about the Undercliff landslide complex can be accessed on the council's website.
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