New images released today by National Highways highlight the progress being made on the A40 to clear and secure a stretch of the road following a rockfall which blocked one lane.

A team of specialists has designed a complex engineering solution following the rockfall and, after extensive survey work, workers can now safely remove the debris and safeguard the hillside so the road can once again be re-opened.

Two public information events are being held this month offering road users and local residents the opportunity to find out more about the work that is taking place and speak to members of the project team.

To improve the long-term safety of the location and prevent further rockfalls here, a patterning of steel bolts and steel mesh will be installed across the stretch of slope affected by the rockfall at Leys Bend, on the Herefordshire/Monmouthshire border.

To find out more about the work taking place, people are invited to come along to the information events on September 12 and 13 in Monmouth. They are taking place as follows:

National Highways Route Manager, Joseph Walmsley, said: “So much work has gone into planning these engineering works and ensuring the safety of both road users and our workforce. Safety was always the priority for us so we had to be sure we had a plan to prevent further rockfalls at this location.

“Thanks to a team of experts and extensive surveys, we have been able to stabilise the area and start work on this quite complex engineering solution.

The contraflow system which has kept the road open in both directions along this stretch will remain in place until the works are finished.