A ROAD closure put in place following a landslip near Horncliffe last year has been extended for another six months by Northumberland County Council.
A 300-metre section of the C2 between Horncliffe Mains junction and the Union Chain Bridge has been shut since December 7.
In the meantime, northbound motorists are still faced with a lengthy six mile diversion to the Berwick bypass and along th
e B6461 Paxton road.
A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: "The incident was one of a series of significant road problems following the severe rainfall in September 2008.
"The council sought assistance from the Department for Transport to fund the necessary repairs to this landslip, estimated in the region of £500,000, and has been working on possible solutions to undertake a permanent repair.
"Funding has now been received from government and we are assessing the most appropriate solution, with a view to undertaking works later this year.
"In the meantime the road will continue to be closed, however, local access is being maintained as far as possible whilst the through traffic is being diverted."
The landslip happened just below the Chain Bridge Honey Farm.
As well as the road collapse, a footbridge which had recently been restored by the council and several mature trees were swept into the River Tweed.
However, it is hoped the repair scheme will be funded from the £2.61 million secured by the council from the government last week.
The grant will cover the cost of flood repairs, in particular the badly damaged Black Bridge, at Warkworth, and the Lion Bridge, in Alnwick, as well as at 13 landslip sites and over 100 other maintenance schemes.
Coun Alan Armstrong, the council's executive member for highways and transport, said: "We are very pleased that the effects of the flooding and the needs of our infrastructure have been recognised by the Department for Transport.
"Our highways service put together comprehensive information on the damage from the flooding and I am delighted their bid for funding has been successful.
"Some of the more urgent and safety related repairs, for example to the Lion Bridge at Alnwick and to the land slips on the A697 at Powburn, were completed immediately following the floods or in the weeks that followed. This was done by diverting our own resources from our Local Transport Plan capital programme.
"Now that we know the overall funding that is available we will be reviewing the work done to date and considering the remaining priorities before agreeing the ongoing programme."
Coun Jeff Reid, council leader, added: "We take the maintenance of our roads very seriously and would like to think the government does as well. This money will provide work and also improve transport infrastructure which can only help the country's economic situation."
Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith said: "I am delighted that the government has recognised the need for this extra funding and the severe financial strain caused by the floods.
"General road maintenance in Northumberland is always going to be expensive because of the huge area the county covers."
