An aerial image of York during the winter 2015 floods
A spokesperson said that due to significant public safety concerns it will not be possible to keep a section of Terry Avenue open, between Skeldergate Bridge and Dukes Wharf, while flood defence work takes place.
The Environment Agency submitted a planning application in March 2019 with its proposals to better protect Clementhorpe from flooding. It forms part of the £45 million given to York by the government after the devastating flooding of Boxing Day 2015.
But concerns were voiced about the proposed closure of Terry Avenue for up to 18 months and the impact on local residents so an alternative solution was sought.
Under the original plans, the road needed to be closed because the machinery required to install an eight metre deep wall of concrete piles under Terry Avenue to stop water ingress during flooding was too large to safely keep access open.
The Agency recently investigated the viability of using a method known as grout injection to stop the water ingress and this was found to be a suitable solution.
This means that the work is expected to take one year, rather than 18 months, and will not require large pile driver machinery so will be less intrusive to residents living nearby.
Environment Agency project director Ben Hughes said:
It is great news that a new less invasive solution, and one that takes six months less time, has been found. This will cause significantly less disruption to people than would otherwise have been the case.
Mr Hughes added that significant preparatory work is needed before the underground grouting can take place, meaning large scale excavation is required along the narrow river frontage. He said:
During our investigations in October a number of incidents arose where work had to stop and members of the public needed to be escorted through the active working area.
This caused significant delay to even these minor works and to ensure Terry Avenue was fully reopened on time we had to impose a 24 hour road closure for vehicles.
Unfortunately these issues are out of our control and we can only conclude that it is not viable to safely accommodate the public in these areas during the main works.
To allow for the legal public consultation period, the planning application is expected to be heard in March, with the aim of work starting in late spring/early summer.
