Campaign group questions resumption of work at Queensbury Tunnel

Highways England said yesterday (Monday) that work at the tunnel had started up again, but the Queensbury Tunnel society, who are campaigning for the tunnel to be re-opened as a cycle path, have criticised the resumption of the work.

A Highways England spokesperson said: “We need to resume essential work in Queensbury Tunnel to strengthen it at three vulnerable locations. The work does not prejudice any future plans to reopen the tunnel but, if we don’t do it, those plans might never be realised. The work will also provide a safe route to the remaining high-risk area in the tunnel where further strengthening work is essential.

“This work will not prejudice ongoing discussions between Bradford Council and the tunnel owner, the Department for Transport.

“All our sites have strict safeguarding measures, in line with Public Health England guidance, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Highways England said that contractors will be on site over the next eight weeks and that there were two significant tunnel lining collapses in the tunnel in 2011 and 2013.

They said a lining collapse could cause a collapse of the ventilation shafts which emerge at ground level.

Highways England said the work involves applying sprayed concrete to the steel mesh previously installed at a number of tunnel shafts and other minor repairs

The attached pictures show the continued deterioration of the 2011 lining collapse.

This phase of safety work does not require planning permission, Highways England said, and Bradford Council and the Department for Transport have been informed about the nature of the safety works.

In response to the statement from Highways England, Graeme Bickerdike, Engineering Co-ordinator for the Queensbury Tunnel Society, said: “It’s regrettable that Highways England continues to perpetuate distorted realities in respect of the tunnel. The partial collapses, which actually occurred in 2013 and 2014, are at least 110 metres from the closest ventilation shafts and pose no threat to their stability. The occasional fall of material at the 2013 collapse is only to be expected given the local ground conditions and ongoing process of stabilisation.

“Competent risk assessment includes a need to determine whether an event is likely to occur. Last year Highways England spent £3.44 million improving the condition of Queensbury Tunnel, with steel strengthening panels - known as RamArch - fixed to the support structures at the shafts. But even prior to this there was no evidence to suggest any collapse of a shaft was likely and Highways England’s own engineer has recently described the shaft bases as ‘safe’. It’s about time they stopped this irresponsible scaremongering which causes unnecessary anxiety within the community.

“Encapsulating the RamArch in sprayed concrete does not unduly concern us, but the work is currently neither essential nor urgent. We question therefore whether the midst of a national health emergency is an appropriate time to begin works in a confined space with poor ventilation, bringing a collection of additional risk management challenges.”