Light at the end of roadworks tunnel

Holey mess . . . Mark Alcock checks out progress

A FURTHER collapse of an underground drain has been blamed for work still taking place to repair a huge hole in a troublesome road.

But council chiefs say there is light at the end of the tunnel with roadworks in Shaw Road, Royton, set to be completed by the end of the month.

Major subsidence led to half the carriageway being fenced off in January at the same spot where there were major roadworks last year.

Temporary traffic lights led to tailbacks for motorists. At the time there were complaints that no work appeared to be taking place — though contractors have since been clearing out a culvert, which is nearly 30ft below the ground and runs for 65 yards.

But residents, who have also been affected by other roadworks in Royton, have hit out after beginning to lose patience.

One said: “The hole in the road has been there for more than six months, and yet despite closing the road for several weeks no repairs to the original problem seem to have been started.

“How much longer will we have temporary lights?

“It probably didn’t take this long to build the bridge in the first place!”

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “This has been an extremely complex set of time-consuming works made even more difficult by a further collapse of the underground culvert.

“Traffic is now running in both directions, controlled by traffic lights.

“This will continue until the culvert has been completely repaired. A slab is being put on top of the hole to protect the culvert and the highway. On Sunday, August 30, the road will be closed for Tarmacing, surface dressing and white-line painting.

“We hope and anticipate this work will then be finished on Bank Holiday Monday.”