Historic culvert refurbished beneath Loughton High Street

The historic Traps Culvert in Loughton has been given a new lease of life thanks to innovative engineering works completed by Essex Highways.

The 150-year-old culvert had become damaged over time, with cracks, missing bricks and a utility intrusion running through, meaning repairs were essential.

The culvert sits directly under a busy high street, meaning traditional repair methods that involved excavating the road weren’t possible.

Essex Highways worked closely with specialist contractor iLine to develop a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) liner to carry out the works without the need for excavation, meaning disruption was kept at a minimum.

The new liner is built to last at least 100 years and can support full highway traffic above.

Essex Highways also worked closely with the Environment Agency to ensure the repairs wouldn’t increase flood risks.

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, said: “The refurbishment of Traps Culvert is a fantastic example of how we can protect vital infrastructure while minimising disruption to residents. The culvert may be hidden from view, but it plays a crucial role in managing water flow beneath one of Loughton’s busiest streets.

“Thanks to innovative engineering and strong collaboration between Essex Highways, iLine and the Environment Agency, we’ve delivered a long-lasting solution that will serve the town for generations to come, creating a safer, greener, healthier Essex.”