Further works to B6344 after JCB crash in January

The stretch of the B6344 road near Crag End which was closed by the landslip.
Picture by Jane Coltman — The stretch of the B6344 road near Crag End which was closed by the landslip. Picture by Jane Coltman

Motorists using the B6344 to and from Rothbury can now expect the disruption to continue into next month thanks to a three-week closure.

Temporary traffic lights are currently in place along a stretch of the road to allow for bridge repairs following a two-vehicle crash.

The collision, between a JCB digger and a car, took place on Monday, January 23, on the B6344 Black Burn Bridge, near to Coquet Brae and Pauperhaugh Farmhouse.

The road was closed for most of the day, with local diversions in place. It later reopened, but with temporary traffic lights in place.

Structural damage was caused to the parapet wall and a Northumberland County Council spokesman said that the aim was for the repairs to be completed within four weeks.

However, while the traffic lights are due to be removed on Monday, February 27, it has now been revealed that the road will be fully closed from that day until Friday, March 17, for further repairs and road resurfacing.

The diversion will take motorists heading towards Rothbury off the B6344 to the south at Pauperhaugh to join the B6342.

The B6344 was previously closed from Boxing Day 2012 until Easter last year following the landslip at Crag End.

The repairs, which cost £10million and took 13 months of construction, were one of the most complex engineering projects carried out by the county council in many years.