National Highways says that it has finished installing soil nails and steel mesh along the stretch of the A40 in Monmouthshire after a rockfall in 2024.

All traffic management on the A40 is now expected to be removed by within weeks, according to a new update, says the South Wales Argus.

It comes as part of an ongoing scheme between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye, which began after the rockfall at Leys Bend. National Highways issued the update this week and confirmed that the installation of soil nails and steel mesh was now complete.

The work has been going on for a long time. At one point, dormice were blamed for holding it up. Then last spring a further survey found the problem was worse than realised, adding months more to the delay.

Other essential work will be carried out while temporary traffic management is still in place, including safety barrier installation, additional drainage and gulley repairs or replacements, carriageway surfacing, and the removal of the temporary crossover locations.

A spokesman for National Highways said:

“We are pleased to share that the installation of the soil nails and steel mesh is now complete along the impacted rockfall area.

“Although this marks the completion of the main works for the scheme, we’ll now take the opportunity to undertake some additional works while temporary traffic management remains in place.

“We now expect to remove all traffic management in spring 2026.”

(Picture: National Highways)_