West Chiltington Road Closure

Update 2:45pm 12 April 2024

Good news! The relatively dry weather over the last week cleared the way for highways work to forge ahead at West Chiltington Road and it was reopened this afternoon.

We would like to thank everyone for their patience while we designed and built a long-term solution following the collapse of a culvert in West Chiltington Road, near Panners Drive.

The collapse caused flooding and significant damage to the road surface. Since then, our efforts to design and build a long-term solution were largely thwarted by persistent, heavy rainfall and flooding. However, during the relatively dry weather over the last week or so, our contractor made significant progress and the road was reopened today. 

The most recent work included installing a culvert pipe, pouring the concrete surround and reprofiling land on either side of the road to ensure that water can flow into and away from the culvert. Various sections of carriageway were then reinstated today.

The highways team will continue to check local roads that were being used as cut throughs to ensure that any safety issues, such as potholes, are picked up.

Update 2:05pm 11 April 2024

Further significant progress has been made in building a long-term solution so that West Chiltington Road can be reopened at Panners Drive - hopefully within days.

The road has been closed at this junction since a culvert under the carriageway collapsed, causing flooding and significant damage to the road surface. Since then, efforts to design and build a long-term solution were largely thwarted by persistent, heavy rainfall and flooding. However, our contractor has made significant progress during the relatively dry weather over the last week or so. A culvert pipe has been installed and the concrete surround poured. Land on either side of the road has also been re-profiled to ensure that water can flow into and away from the culvert.

This leaves various sections of carriageway needing to be reinstated. Work is set to start on this tomorrow (Friday) and should be completed within days, subject to any further unforeseen circumstances. We will provide a further update as soon as possible and would like to thank everyone again for their patience.

Meanwhile, the county council continues to urge people to please use the official, signed diversion route (please see section, below).

The highways team will continue weekly checks on roads that are being used as cut throughs to ensure that any safety issues, such as potholes, are picked up.

Update 7:40am 9 April 2024

Good progress has been made in constructing a long-term solution so that West Chiltington Road can be reopened at Panners Drive as soon as possible.

The road has been closed at this junction since a culvert under the carriageway collapsed, causing significant damage to the road surface and flooding. Since then, efforts to design and then build a long-term solution have been thwarted by persistent, heavy rainfall and flooding.

Now, however, a culvert pipe has been installed and the concrete surround was poured late last week. Works are still required to re-profile the land either side of the road, to ensure that water can flow into and away from the culvert. Various sections of carriageway also need to be reinstated. Progress is still heavily dependent on the weather and water levels but we hope to have completed the works so that the road can be reopened within the next fortnight, subject to any further unforeseen circumstances.

Meanwhile, we continue to urge people to please use the official, signed diversion route (see diversion information section, below).

Thank you for your continued patience.

The highways team will continue weekly checks on roads that are being used as cut throughs to ensure that any safety issues, such as potholes, are picked up.

Update 10:34 8 March 2024

The weather over the last few weeks has prevented any progress to repair works. The water present, not only the volume but the rate of flow, means it is not safe or practical to work.

We understand how frustrating this situation is and we are checking the site most days, to see if water levels have subsided and to ensure the site is safe. This will continue until works can recommence. We will undertake pumping works when the water volume is at manageable levels but the sheer volume at this stage means it is not practical, which we appreciate is disappointing. We reviewed other options from the local community, such as temporary bridges or road plates. Both options come with risks and challenges and on balance we believe at this stage are not appropriate for this site.

We have sought advice from multiple contractors and drainage specialists that we have brought in to review the works to date, the site constraints, and the volume of water in question. We obtained multiple different opinions, to ensure there was not something that we had not considered. All contractors agreed that our proposals and the actions to date were appropriate given the current constraints and we are disappointed that there is not more we can do at this time.

Other options have been considered to restrict water flow upstream from the site, and on private land, but this could cause private landowner issues and risk of flooding elsewhere, and this is something we want to avoid.

We continue to undertake weekly inspections of the local roads that are being used as alternatives due to the West Chiltington Road closure, raising any safety related defects for repair by our contractor.

We have reviewed the signage associated with the closure and the diversion route, to ensure everything is where it should be.

We understand the frustration that the delays bring, and we will continue to do our best to resolve and reopen the road as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.

A diversion route has been implemented as follows:

• Harborough Hill to The Common to Mill Road (North)
• The Hollow to Broadford Bridge Road to Adversane Lane (West)
• Stane St A29 (South) to Lower Street A283 (East)
• Mare Hill Road to West Chiltington Road

We ask that all drivers utilise the official diversion route as the surrounding lanes are unsuitable for the higher volumes of traffic that would normally use West Chiltington Road, with concerns around the potential need for lengthy reversing manoeuvres for motorists which could cause safety issues.

We continue to undertake weekly inspections of the local roads that are affected by the closure of West Chiltington Road, raising any safety related defects that are identified for repair by our contractor and to ensure adequate diversion signage.

16 February 2024

Press Release: West Chiltington Road further update: water levels hamper work to reopen road at Panners Drive

2 February 2024

Press Release: West Chiltington Road closure update: work scheduled to start on Monday

2 January 2024

Press Release: Update: Heavy rainfall delays works at West Chiltington Road

22 December 2023

Press Release: West Chiltington Road Closure at Panners Drive: A further update

21 December 2023

Press Release: West Chiltington Road Closure Update