Work starts on closed landslip road 18 months on

Work has started to repair a Lancashire road that closed 18 months ago following a landslip.

The partial collapse occurred along Haslingden Old Road in Oswaldtwistle on 1 January 2025, following heavy rain and flooding.

The deluge caused a wall supporting the road and one lane of the carriageway to collapse and the road has been closed ever since.

Lancashire County Council said "challenging ground conditions" made the scheme "a highly complex engineering project".

Extensive surveys, design work and site preparation was needed before construction could begin after about 2,500 tonnes of earth was displaced, the authority said.

The work will see a new reinforced earth retaining wall built to replace the damaged section to provide a safe long-term solution.

Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained throughout.

The council's aim remains to complete the works this year.

County councillor Warren Goldsworthy, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We recognise that the closure has been frustrating for residents, businesses and road users, and we would like to thank people for their patience.

"This isn't a straightforward repair, but we are focused on delivering a long-term solution that will allow the road to reopen safely.

"We know how important this route is for local communities and our focus remains on reopening it as soon as possible."

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