Unexplained Underground Movements Damage a Lyneham Road in Wiltshire Since Feb. 17

A Lyneham road in Wiltshire, England, has been extensively damaged by unexplained underground movements.

Located near the village of Lyneham, the incident has made the damaged road, known as the B4069 road, nearly impassable.

The damaged road with visible cracks on it resembles what an earthquake would cause when its tremors impact a road infrastructure.

The mysterious underground movements have caused some of the road's pavements to tilt upward.

Local authorities reported that the B4069 road has been closed since Feb. 17, but drivers still have continued to use the route despite its current condition.

An investigation is underway into the incident, and it is still unclear whether the damage was caused by the recent passage of storms.

Earthquake-Like Damage

(Photo : Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

According to BBC, the Wiltshire Council stated that the ripped-up section of B4069 will cost millions of UK pounds and may take up to a year for it to be fully repaired.

An initial emergency road closure was placed on Feb. 17, but the police claim that some motorists are ignoring the closure sign.

Prior to the incident, residents in the area reportedly said subsidence, a downward vertical movement of the ground that has been gradually occurring over the past year.

The road cracks that happened more than a week ago are considered to be the worst damaged road in the area.

In the meantime, the Wiltshire Council is waiting for a report from geotechnical specialists before proceeding with repairs of the damaged road as both local authorities and residents are unable to explain what caused the earthquake-like damage.

Moreover, the damaged road has also affected local businesses in the area and disruption on road traffic movement the road became nearly impassable due to some cracks tilting upward at a 45-degree angle.

The disruption is likely to continue until new measures are imposed in the area.

Also read: Storm Eunice Brings Strong Winds and Damage in the UK and Europe

Potential Causes of the Damage

Multiple reports have compared the road damage to an earthquake.

However, there have been no recent recordings of strong earthquakes significant enough to cause damage of this magnitude to the Lyneham road.

Nevertheless, the Wiltshire Times reported that the damage on B4069 was due to a major landslip caused by Storm Eunice, which recently passed through England and across the UK, approximately more than a week ago.

Eunice, along with storms Dudley, Franklin, and Gladys, battered the UK for consecutive days within more than a week.

The storms brought heavy rain and strong winds, causing widespread flooding and widespread disruption to travel.

In the UK and other countries, incidents of road damage and other infrastructural damage are common during the passage of a significant storm.

According to the Center for Science Education, storms can cause storm surge-driven flooding that can damage roads and other properties.

Nevertheless, an official report of the incident is expected to be received by Wiltshire County in the coming days and weeks.

Before the repairs take place, local authorities have imposed measures on road traffic movement, including the usage of alternative routes and the installation of road closure signs.

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