Mystery as road is ripped up by 'unexplained underground movements' near Lyneham in Wiltshire


Mystery as road is ripped up by ‘unexplained underground movements’ – as drivers continue to use it despite millions of pounds of damage

  • A section of the B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire has become badly contorted 
  • Parts of the topsy-turvy tarmac are snapped and even pointing at 45 degrees
  • The damage has been caused by so far unexplained underground movements
  • Earthquake-like damage has caused the road to be damaged since February 17 


A ripped up road could cost millions to repair after mysterious underground movements left it so warped it looks like it had been hit by an earthquake.

A section of the B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire has been so badly damaged the tarmac has completely snapped or is at a 45 degree angle.

Wiltshire Council say the road has been closed since February 17 – but some drivers are still trying to use it according to police.

The earthquake-like damage has been caused by unexplained underground movements which will now be investigated.

Local residents claim the subsidence has been getting worse over the last year and a landslip was inevitable.

A warped section of the B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire has left residents mystified as to exactly what underground processes could have caused the earthquake-like damage

A warped section of the B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire has left residents mystified as to exactly what underground processes could have caused the earthquake-like damage

Experts will investigate the cause of the severe subsidence that has left parts of the road cracked and sticking out at a 45 degree angle

Experts will investigate the cause of the severe subsidence that has left parts of the road cracked and sticking out at a 45 degree angle

Since February 17, the section of the road has been closed, although Wiltshire Council say some motorists have stubbornly kept using it

Since February 17, the section of the road has been closed, although Wiltshire Council say some motorists have stubbornly kept using it

Wiltshire Council said it is now waiting for a report from geotechnical specialists 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 in some places the road had ‘buckled’ up to four feet, and descriptions of it looking like an earthquake were accurate.

The damage could cost millions of pounds to repair, leaving motorists to take diversions for a year, according to Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport

The damage could cost millions of pounds to repair, leaving motorists to take diversions for a year, according to Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport

Wiltshire Council are waiting on a report from geotechnical specialists before moving forward with repairs so they can understand what has resulted in the topsy-turvy topography

Wiltshire Council are waiting on a report from geotechnical specialists before moving forward with repairs so they can understand what has resulted in the topsy-turvy topography 

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.

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