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Repairs to collapsed Liverpool tunnel set to start

Work to carry out repairs is set to start on an underground tunnel which collapsed below homes in Liverpool.

The city council has resolved outstanding legal issues, allowing work in the old Dingle Station on the Liverpool Overhead Railway to begin.

The work has been awarded to specialist engineering firm SES Contracting Ltd, which has experience in repairs of this nature.

Residents affected by the partial collapse of the tunnel in Dingle have had to live in temporary accommodation since the incident in July 2012 after it was deemed unsafe for them to return to their own homes.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Paul Brant, said: “I am delighted that we are finally in a position where work can shortly get under-way to repair Dingle Tunnel. “This has taken longer to finalise than we would have wished, but it was vital we made sure that residents were not left in a permanent legal limbo.

“It has been a dreadfully frustrating time for those affected, and I fully appreciate, understand and sympathise with them.

“This marks a significant milestone in our efforts to sort this difficult situation out, and I would like to thank residents for their support and patience while negotiations have continued.

“We will of course be keeping them updated on progress and let them know when we have a start date for the work.”

Overall, eleven properties had to be evacuated – eight in Sundridge Street, one in Toxteth Grove and two in Dingle Grove.

A safety inspection will take place in the next few weeks, after which contractors should begin the repairs. The project will take at least three months to complete.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .