A40 Leys Bend Rockfall
Stabilising a critical route: delivering a long-term solution to keep the A40 safely moving
Following a major rockfall at Leys Bend, our Highways team helped maintain safe access for road users while designing and delivering a permanent slope stabilisation solution.
From emergency response and traffic management to the installation of nearly 4,000 metres of soil nails, the project transformed a significant geotechnical challenge into a resilient, long-term solution for our client, National Highways.
Project overview
The A40 Leys Bend project focused on keeping the road safely open while managing the aftermath of a major rockfall and delivering a long-term engineering solution.
Key activities included:
- Installing temporary traffic management and a contraflow system
- Placing concrete barriers
- Installing CCTV
- Providing a free recovery service to protect road users during investigations
Extensive geological surveys were undertaken to assess the slope’s condition, leading to the design of a permanent stabilisation solution using steel bolts and mesh. Alongside this, the team completed essential drainage repairs during short overnight closures, cleared debris, and maintained access to the hillside for ongoing monitoring. Together, these activities enabled the project to progress successfully from an emergency response phase through to the completion of permanent construction works.
Over the course of the project, the highways team installed nearly 4,000 linear metres of soil nails. This involved drilling holes into the slope face, inserting long steel bars, and grouting them into position to provide long-term stability. The soil nails varied in size depending on their location, ranging from 11 metres in length, approximately the same length as a London bus, to smaller 7-metre installations.
The team also removed additional rockfall material, clearing around 245 tonnes from the site. In recognition of the high standards maintained throughout delivery, the project achieved an outstanding score of 45 out of 45 during its latest Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) monitoring visit.
Fun fact: Soil nails vary in size depending on the location of insertion, from 11 metres long, which is approximately the same length as a London bus, to some slightly smaller ones at 7 metres. Totalling to almost 4,000 meters of soil nails to stabilise the slope.