Repair work has finally started on a damaged Oswaldtwistle road, which has been closed for the past 18 months due to a landslip.
Haslingden Old Road has been shut since early January 2025 after heavy rain triggered a landslip, causing a retaining wall and part of the carriageway to collapse.
Around 2,500 tonnes of earth were displaced in the incident.
Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, cabinet member for highways and transport at Lancashire County Council, said: "It’s great to see work now underway at Haslingden Old Road, which marks a significant milestone in this complex repair project.
"We recognise that the closure has been frustrating for residents, businesses and road users, and we would like to thank people for their patience.
"This isn’t a straightforward repair, but we are focused on delivering a long-term solution that will allow the road to reopen safely."
Challenging ground conditions and the scale of the landslip have made this a complex engineering project.
Extensive surveys, design work and site preparation were required before construction could begin.
A contractor was appointed in March this year following a robust tendering process, allowing the scheme to move through detailed design and into construction.
The project includes building a new reinforced earth retaining wall to replace the damaged section.
This approach uses methods typically seen in large-scale infrastructure projects and is expected to provide a durable, long-term solution.
Pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained throughout the works, though cars will be diverted.
Cllr Goldsworthy said: "We know how important this route is for local communities and our focus remains on reopening it as soon as possible."
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The council aims to complete repairs during 2026, but the timeline is subject to change due to ground conditions and weather.
Work completed so far includes enabling works and additional site surveys.
Officials remind drivers to continue using signed diversion routes while the road remains closed.
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