Sinkhole Repair Operations Commence Following Storm

Efforts to repair a sinkhole on a significant route connecting two villages have commenced. The A361, situated between Wardington in Oxfordshire and Chipping Warden in Northamptonshire, has been closed to traffic since 06:00 GMT on Monday. Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) indicated that work to mend the carriageway, which began on Thursday, might be finalized by “the end of the month.” The authority, however, cautioned that the timeline for repairs was dependent on “what is found once water is pumped out and excavation work starts.” Councillor Andrew Gant, OCC’s head of transport, stated: “This is an extremely busy road which is why we have made it a priority to have a repair programme in place within days.” He added: “We will reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so.” Councillor Gant further commented: “We hope this will be by the end of December but, unfortunately, there are no guarantees when it comes to work of this nature.” The sinkhole’s formation is attributed to recent flooding of the nearby River Cherwell, which submerged a culvert – a brick water pipe – running beneath the road. The council reported that water would need to be pumped out to facilitate an inspection of the culvert before the full scope of necessary repairs could be determined. Mr. Gant characterized the sinkhole as a “pretty stark example of the kind of pressure our large and rural road network is experiencing from extreme weather.” OCC has suggested an alternative route, approximately 27 miles (43km) long, from the A423 Southam Rd to the A425 Daventry Road, while the A361 remains closed. Local residents previously informed the BBC that they felt “cut out” due to the road closure. Mark Chivers, who is disabled, remarked that those without any transport “are really quite stuck.” The Wardington resident also stated: “It’s just not possible for all of us to do online food shopping or have people around here to help out.” Information regarding BBC Oxfordshire is available on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Details on its approach to external linking are accessible.