HIGHWAYS engineers are working hard to repair a massive sinkhole that appeared in the middle of a busy County Durham Road earlier this week.
There was traffic chaos on Wednesday morning after the sinkhole appeared in the A694 at its junction with the B6310 near Medomsley on Tuesday.
The Northern Echo reported shocking scenes as drivers flouted the rules and drove over a grassed area next to a footpath to get around road closure signs.
Signage leading up to the sinkhole site was heavily criticised and branded inadequate, while drivers said there were no diversions in place.
Read more: Chaos as drivers break rules to avoid sinkhole on A694 near Medomsley
The closure happened on what is a major junction with roads leading, respectively, from Burnopfield, Medomsley, Hamsterley Mill and Rolands Gill, over the country border in Gateshead.
The council has since put extra barriers and cones in place to prevent drivers from mounting the grassed area.
And signs have now been placed in the villages leading up to the closure, advising motorists to seek alternative.
The sinkhole appeared about a metre in diameter, but concealed beneath was a much larger hole, which has now been excavated in preparation for work.
Anthea Coxon, Durham County Council’s highway services manager, said: “Following Tuesday’s discovery of a sinkhole on the A694/B6310 at Medomsley, engineers have completed their assessment of the situation and we have worked closely with the Coal Authority to develop a programme of appropriate repairs.
“Our teams are working hard to excavate the sinkhole, with a view to backfilling it and making it safe. Staff will be working throughout the weekend to carry out these repairs, which are expected to be complete early next week.
“The road remains closed and work will continue through the night to put up diversion signs which will be in place by mid-morning tomorrow.
“We understand the closure will cause disruption to drivers but it is unavoidable. We would like to thank people for their patience while these essential repairs are carried out.”
DIVERSION
To follow the diversion from the south-western side of the closure from the A694 at Ebchester, drivers should travel on the B6309 to the A692 Leadgate then in a north-east direction on the A692 to the A1(M) at Lobley Hill before travelling west to the interchange junction with the A694 at Blaydon, to the north-eastern side of the closure, and vice versa.
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