Repair work has begun this week on a collapsed dry-stone retaining wall on the A520 Cheadle Road in Wetley Rocks, near Stafford. Staffordshire County Council highways teams are tackling a major rebuild that could take up to six weeks to complete. The wall came down last month, and engineers are now moving in with barriers and two-way traffic lights already positioned near the Powys Arms Pub.
This won't be a straightforward rebuild. Engineers will reconstruct the wall and reinforce it with a concrete backing to handle the weight and traffic levels that pound it daily. Much of the work will happen below road level, meaning drivers passing through the Stafford area may not see the full extent of repairs taking place underground and behind barriers.
Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Support Member for Highways North, Patrick Allen, said crews will work as fast as possible to get traffic moving again. However, he warned drivers to take extra care when travelling through the affected area on the A520.
The two-way traffic lights and barriers will remain in place throughout the entire repair period. Local residents and commuters in the Stafford region should expect potential delays when using this route and plan journeys accordingly during the six-week reconstruction project.