B4069 Lyneham Banks reopens after landslip and rebuild

Wiltshire Council has today (Wednesday 2 April) reopened the B4069 Lyneham Banks following a major landslip in February 2022, which broke up the road and moved it 25 metres downhill.

Since that time, the council has been working hard to reopen the road, but it has been a long process due to the complexity of the engineering project.

First the council had to wait several months until the road stopped moving before it could establish the cause of the landslip and assess the best way to rebuild the road to prevent the landslip reoccurring. Once that was work was completed, the council drew up detailed plans on several options to repair the road before engaging with stakeholders and appointing a contractor, Octavius Infrastructure, which started the repairs work in July 2024.

Parvis Khansari, Corporate Director Place, said: "We're delighted that the B4069 Lyneham Banks has finally reopened after several years of hard work to both restore the road and introduce measures to prevent the land from slipping again.

"The closure has had a real effect on the local community and we thank them for their patience and understanding during the work.

"I'd also like to thank our officers and the team from Octavius Infrastructure, who have worked hard to deliver this project on time and on budget.

"This reopening marks a significant milestone, ensuring safer and more reliable journeys for all who use the road."

Chris Hudson, Operations Director of Octavius' highways business, said: "This was a challenge. About 90 metres of carriageway was lost. The hillside was still creeping when we commenced work, tackling such ground conditions demanded some creative solutions. But we are about bringing people together, so it was great to help reconnect communities affected by this lengthy road closure."

Key facts about the project

• The project cost around £5m, including the design, construction, land costs, risk allowance and further repairs to the B4069.
• 1,500 cubic metres of excavated ground re-used in the project, saving around 200 lorry movements.
• 650 cubic metres of concrete used and 2,370 bags of grout.
• The project used 560m of linear drainage and 1,000 tonnes of drainage stone counterforts.
• The road took around 25,000 person-hours to construct.
• 900 metres of micro piles were used.
• Around 7,500 tonnes of stone were used for the road construction.

More than 600 plants have been planted during the project.