Work to fix Britain’s ‘wonkiest’ road has finally started two years after it was turned into a corkscrew during Storm Eunice, allowing reckless BMX riders to use it for practice.
A 330-foot stretch of the B4069 in Lyneham, Wiltshire was broken up when a landslip caused it to slide 82-foot downhill in February 2022.
It has since become mecca for BMX riders and skateboarders who use the broken up road to practice their extreme tricks.
Wiltshire Council has splashed out £5million to fix the stretch of road and are hoping to open it to traffic by spring 2025.
Councillor Nick Holder, who is in charge of overseeing the project, vowed that contractors will be ‘working six days a week – Monday to Saturday, 12 hours a day’ to get the road open as soon as possible.’
A 330-foot stretch of the B4069 in Lyneham, Wiltshire was broken up when a landslip caused it to slide 82-foot downhill in February 2022
Sections of the destroyed road are covered in graffiti while trees have also fallen across the tarmac
An aerial view of the road taken on March 25, 2024
Mr Holder explained that work could not start earlier as contractors had to wait for the land to stop moving.
Over the last two years, parts of the twisted road has descended further, while other sections have risen by 19-foot.
Some local residents believe the contracted work is a waste of taxpayer’s money as the road runs through an area that has always been unstable.
Felicity and Tim Reynolds told the Telegraph: ‘Instead of throwing more money after bad, the council should look for alternative routes on more stable ground.
‘While these repairs may stabilise the road, they will do nothing to prevent, and may even exacerbate, movement in the rest of the road.’
But Wiltshire Council insisted it has a legal duty to repair the road and contractors started clearing the site on Wednesday.
There are plans in place to install a retaining wall next week.
The ripped up road has become mecca for BMX riders to practice their extreme tricks
As well as those on BMX bicycles, other people are seen using skateboards
Wiltshire Council are spending £5million for its repair. They aim to have it open to traffic by spring 2025
Local businesses are relived that work is finally underway – as they report ‘just surviving’ with the road closure.
Simon Manners, the landlord of the Crosskeys at Brandenstoke said: ‘Nothing ever seems to get done, we hear they are planning all the time, but this has impacted us by around £40,000 per year with the loss of trade.’
‘We’re just surviving.’
Before the landslip, the road was used by more than 5,500 vehicles each day.
Although only a short stretch of road was rendered useable by the storm, motorists have faced diversions of several miles and one-way systems in nearby villages.
Business in Lyneham have suffered from poor footfall as a result.
Less than a mile away from the road closure, Michael Samphire – the owner of Piggy’s Cafe in Lyneham – lost out on customers due to access from Chippenham being restricted.
He said: ‘People find it very difficult to get here.’
Mr Samphire said he had been forced to dip into his savings in order to keep his cafe afloat.
He said: ‘We’re all suffering and there’s no help for us out there.’
Four months after Storm Eunice destroyed the road in February 2022, Brendan Watkins, landlord of the local Peterborough Arms said the prolonged closure was killing his trade.
His pub is located on the road and he said cars couldn’t use it so drinkers have to walk for a drink.
The road used to carry 5,500 vehicles a day, but while it has been broken businesses have been losing trade and dealing with long diversions
Although only a short stretch of road was rendered useable by the storm, motorists have faced diversions of several miles and one-way systems in nearby villages
The Peterborough Arms, which is located on the road, has been heavily affected by the closure
The warped section of the B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire left residents mystified as to exactly what underground processes could have caused the earthquake-like damage
Mr Watkins said at the time: ‘Before the landslip, the pub was generally a lot busier, with locals and passing trade. A few of the people who are regular here have said sorry for not coming, because they don’t want to come through.
‘It’s a problem, we have lost regulars. And we’ve definitely lost passing trade because a lot of people will use this road at the weekends, call in and have a pint and a sandwich and go off.
‘It’s a good meeting place for people from both sides of the road. People from Lyneham and Wootton Bassett and people from Chippenham area, they would come and meet here because it’s a nice halfway point.
‘But of course they can’t do that any more cause they can only get here one way.’
