Lee Wood Rd, Heptonstall closed for major repairs

[ColinJ]

(I couldn't think which forum was best for this so I've posted it in Cafe.)

For those who might be cycling or driving in this area in the next few months - be warned that there has been a major problem on Lee Wood Road, in the woods below Heptonstall, above Hebden Bridge. The road was being repaired when the weight of an HGV caused a retaining wall to collapse and the vehicle and a big chunk of the road slipped down the hillside. Fortunately for the driver, trees stopped the truck before it went far! Report in Halifax Courier.

A friend of mine thought he'd be able to get through on his bike but he said that the road was completely blocked off, or at least it was last week. We haven't checked since then, but assume that it is shut until further notice. That means you would either have to make a long detour or go up/down through the village itself.

Calderdale council has been given a £900,000 grant to cover road repairs for the next 2 years but this one road repair is forecast to cost £500,000 of that budget so it looks as though a lot of local potholes will not be getting filled until 2015!

 

[ColinJ]

I walked up there this afternoon. As the photographs below show, the road is very definitely closed to motor vehicles, but there is room for pedestrians and cyclists to get through. (OTOH, that probably won't be true when they are actually working on the repairs.)

I had a good look at the retaining wall and the road surface itself. It looks to my untrained eye as if the road has been gradually spreading downhill over the years and the wall is slowly bowing. I've seen this elsewhere locally, on Calderbrook Road, near Littleborough - the road was repaired at great expense and then just slipped away again a year or two later. The response there was to close the road permanently but that is not an option for Lee Wood Road which is effectively a bypass for Heptonstall. I ended up in the village and the increase in traffic was very evident. The villagers had put up notices pleading for motorists to drive sensibly. They were also asking for temporary traffic lights because the cobbled road is effectively singletrack in places.

 

[classic33]

Is this before or after the junction that would take you onto Hebden Hey?
Council were informed a number of years ago that the road was sliding sideways. This on a section of road about 250 yards past that junction. They could see no sign, but never bothered getting out to look over the wall.

 

[Svendo]

I got past last week, had to become a 'semi-pedestrian' to get past the main works, there was a small path left like on Colin's photo. Didn't know a lorry had gone over the side. Its on this stretch I think.

 

[classic33]

If it is the same piece, it was reported to the council in 1996, as slipping. Retaining wall on the lower side was bowing outwards, just below road level.
There have been a few minor landslides on the lower side of that road over the years.

 

[ColinJ]

I think I recognise this road, Colin. Is it on the Pennine Way? I may have walked up there a few times. It's lovely countryside but no place for an HGV.

No, that would be a mile or two further on, the other side of Slack.

Is this before or after the junction that would take you onto Hebden Hey?
Council were informed a number of years ago that the road was sliding sideways. This on a section of road about 250 yards past that junction. They could see no sign, but never bothered getting out to look over the wall.

That sounds like it - it's about halfway between the turn for Hebden Hey and the bridleway further on that comes up from the Blue Pig, crosses the road and continues up to Heptonstall.

I was just having a look at that stretch of road in Streetview - link. You can't quite see the kinks in the wall which are obvious if you stand next to it and look along the top of it.

 

[ColinJ]

Great minds think alike!

If you look at Svendo's Streetview link, you can see that the wall doesn't look right there.

 

[classic33]

Same piece that was reported then. I was going to mention the Blue Pig, but thought it might have gone since I was last in it. Been a few! years now.

 

[classic33]

How would this work now. The fact that the road was slipping was reported to the council. They came out, but didn't get out of the vehicle, so saw no sign of the road slipping. Lorry driver still in hospital, I presume.

 

[ColinJ]

How would this work now. The fact that the road was slipping was reported to the council. They came out, but didn't get out of the vehicle, so saw no sign of the road slipping. Lorry driver still in hospital, I presume.

The lorry driver was extremely lucky in that trees below the wall stopped his vehicle tumbling down the hillside. I don't think he was badly hurt.

It would have been a different matter if those trees hadn't been there ...

 

[classic33]

Thats one good thing.
But given that the council were made aware of lanslips on that section of road, would/could they now be held partly liable.

With regards the pothole repairs. Half the budget is being set aside to bring the tour route up to standards.

 

[ColinJ]

Thats one good thing.
But given that the council were made aware of lanslips on that section of road, would/could they now be held partly liable.

They certainly ought to be!

Years ago, there was a campaign to get traffic lights put in at the end of Foster Lane in Hebden Bridge. Drivers attempting to pull out onto the A6033 were in severe danger of being hit by people hurtling up or down the hill round the adjacent bends. The council kept saying that they had no record of anybody being killed or seriously injured there! Eventually they realised what a PR disaster it would be if they literally waited for that to happen ...

So, there are lights there now. Take a look on Streetview to see why they were necessary, and ask yourself how any council representative could argue otherwise - link.

With regards the pothole repairs. Half the budget is being set aside to bring the tour route up to standards.

Pity we don't get the Tour here every year then!

 

[classic33]

Familiar with the area. Used to work in the area. Thats how I knewthat the problem had been reported. Also, roughly the area involved.

Ask yourself though. Cragg road is going to be facing a major overhaul prior to the tour. Possibly with parts being straightened. Is that a wise way to decide what roads get repaired?

 

[ColinJ]

Ask yourself though. Cragg road is going to be facing a major overhaul prior to the tour. Possibly with parts being straightened. Is that a wise way to decide what roads get repaired?

What on earth is wrong with Cragg Road? Especially going up it! (I'm not so keen on riding down it quickly because the road surface is a bit rough.)

Apart from filling a few potholes in and making sure there aren't too many vehicles parked where they shouldn't be, I can't see a problem with it.

 

[Svendo]

Cragg road is going to be facing a major overhaul prior to the tour. Possibly with parts being straightened.

That's interesting, the straightening part that is. Do you mind if I ask where you heard or read that?