A ripped up road in Wiltshire that looks as if it’s been ‘torn up by an earthquake’ could cost millions of pounds to repair.
A section of the B4069 near Lyneham has been so badly damaged that the tarmac is completely snapped or at a 45-degree angle in some places.
Wiltshire council say the road has been closed since 17 February, but some drivers still try to use it according to police.
The earthquake-like damage seems to have come from unexplained movements underground that will now be investigated.
Local residents claim the subsidence has been getting worse over the last year and that a landslip was inevitable.
Wiltshire Council said it is now waiting for a report from geotechnical specialists on damage to the road before taking further action.
Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport, told BBC Radio Wiltshire: “It could costs hundreds of thousands or up into the millions [to fix].
“There is significant damage to the road. It could be up to 12 months in total. It’s not something that can be resolved in a matter of days or weeks.”
Dr McClelland added that in some places the road had ‘buckled’ up to four feet, and that descriptions of it looking like an earthquake were accurate.
He added: “The underlying ground has slipped and we need to understand why that has happened.
“The police have been very clear that it’s very dangerous for motorists to ignore signage.”
The remarkable damage is also affecting local business, with local pubs like the Peterborough Arms suffering huge losses in bookings since the closure.
