Repairs begin on Folkestone's Road of Remembrance

Bob DaleSouth East
News imageKENT COUNTY COUNCIL A view of the top of a hill in Folkestone, with the footpath fenced off and diggers parked beside it.KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
The Road of Remembrance has been closed for two years following a landslip

Work has begun which will see Folkestone's Road of Remembrance reopened.

The route, which connects the town at the top of cliffs with the harbour at the bottom, has been closed since January 2024 following a landslip.

The work began on 18 May and is expected to take 44 weeks.

Peter Osborne, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "This is a very historically important road that was used in World War One.

"Our troops marched down and went to war from here so it must be rebuilt properly.

"This is highly specialist work in a very challenging environment, and it was never going to be a quick or simple project."

News imageKENT COUNTY COUNCIL A red digging machine works on a set of paving slaps at the top of a steep hill.KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

The engineers have begun removing the hedgerows and root balls of the trees that collapsed.

They will then start drill more than a thousand holes for soil nails which will go through the rock to stabilise the cliff and prevent future movement.

Matting and mesh will also be installed to try to prevent future landslides, with a new drainage system to carry water away from the cliff.

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