Engineers from Guernsey and Jersey have rushed to Sark to work out how they can fix damage to La Coupée after recent rockfall and the partial collapse of a wall along the structure.
As a precaution, it is "closed to all but the most essential vehicle traffic with weights to be kept to an absolute minimum" to ensure there is no further damage and as little risk as possible to those using the crossing.
A spokesperson for Chief Pleas told Express that the rock fall and partial wall collapse have affected the southern end on the western side of La Coupée.
"We will know more once the engineering team have visited (today)," said William Spooner, Sark's Senior Operations Officer.
"We will update residents as soon as we can," he added.
Those engineers - including two engineers from GeoMarine Guernsey and a geologist from GeoMarine Jersey - are in Sark today to assess the damage.
They'll be carrying out a 'drone inspection' of the damage and wider site, and then using the information to design a remedial solution, which is likely to involve adding mesh reinforcements to the sides of La Coupée, with concrete sprayed into the structure to hold it up.
That work will be carried out next week with engineers and rope access specialists from GeoMarine Guernsey already getting ready.
"We are grateful for the swift response from GeoMarine," said Mr Spooner.
Pictured: La Coupée pictured on sark.co.uk.
The isthmus connects Sark and Little Sark and is the only way to get between the two except for by boat.
Made up of sedimentary rock, it has had handrails since the early 1900s.
Damage caused during the Second World War was repaired by German prisoners following the Liberation of the Channel Islands in 1945.
That six month project saw the workers put in the concrete supports and handrails that are still there today.
Pictured top: La Coupée.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.