IT has been almost a year since a road in Northwich suffered a landslip – and advance works are still underway before repairs can take place.

On December 28, 2021, Soot Hill in Anderton had to be closed in both directions as a result of a landslip under the carriageway opposite Cosgrove Business Park.

And the repair works aren't expected to be completed until autumn 2023, according to the council’s timeline of events.

A dedicated webpage was set up by Cheshire West and Chester Council to keep residents updated with the road repairs.

An update for works to be carried out in November include: BT to attend the site to divert their cabling, the contractor to obtain prices for the repair work, and the contractor to submit the confirmed costings to the council.

The timeline suggests the council will approve these costings in December, with repair works to commence in early 2023.

It is anticipated the works will be finished in autumn 2023.

The Soot Hill webpage reads: “Following ground penetrating radar surveys and ground investigations works, the council has moved to the next stage of this repair project and signed a contract with Balfour Beatty plc, a well-known, national contractor.

“Working with design consultants Ramboll, they are now working to develop solutions and costings to repair the landslip.

“Although the contract has only recently been formalised, the council has been working with Balfour Beatty since March to ensure they could offer advice from the earliest possible stage in case of potential issues later.

“Specialist expertise will be needed, including structural, geotechnical, drainage and highways engineers.

“These engineers will review and interpret the ground penetrating radar site surveys and ground condition investigation results, undertake load-bearing and road level calculations and then create the complex technical designs needed to ensure the permanent stability of the landslip area.”

Over the next few weeks, BT will be coming to the area to divert their cabling.

The webpage adds: “Scottish Power has almost completed work to divert their high voltage live cables to a new location away from the landslip.

“At the same time, United Utilities water worked on one of their cast iron water mains.

“Temporary traffic signals were needed while these works were carried out.

“All these advance works have to carried out before any repairs to the landslip area.”