Road closures could create "perfect storm" of traffic warns councillor

* Lllangollen bridge could be at the centre of a perfect traffic storm, claims a councillor.

A Llangollen town councillor has sent an open letter to Wales' transport minister Julie James claiming that Llangollen is at risk of being hit by "the perfect storm" of road closures.

Stuart Davies says the long-term diversion around the collapsed B5605 between Newbridge and Cefn Mawr coupled with other blockages could have a "catastrophic" affect on the town.

And he suggests the delay in repairing the Newbridge road is a symptom of Wales's "north-south divide."  

He writes: "By putting in place a blanket closure order on the A483 near McDonalds in Chirk without thinking through the consequences the Welsh Government risks causing the perfect storm.

"After Storm Christoph in January this year the B5605 between Newbridge and Cefn Mawr collapsed closing a viable alternate Dee crossing.

"The only de facto alternative Dee crossing if there are more road closures on the A483 is now the Llangollen Bridge.

"We have already seen the carnage caused when the A483 is closed for night-time work. With 44-ton HGVs traversing the narrowed Castle Street leading to the Llangollen bridge, mounting the pavements and threatening pedestrians, it is not a safe alternative.

"Basically, trunk road traffic is traversing a narrowed town centre road.

"With the Llangollen 2020 scheme supposed to be taking place this autumn, subject to a statutory TRO consultation with Llangollen residents, if single line traffic through Llangollen was implemented to allow works on the scheme, then a road closure of the A483 would be catastrophic, with all the trunk road traffic being diverted through Llangollen.

"Has anyone thought this scenario through? Have Denbighshire County Council (DCC) officers and Wales Transport Authority officers and Welsh Government and DCC members met to consider the ramifications of what is going on, with the perfect storm of the Newbridge road collapse, the A483 18-month blanket road closure order and the plan to implement the 2020 scheme conspiring to cause gridlock and endanger the public?

"I am seeking assurances from the minister and our elected representative Ken Skates along with DCC that all the factors I refer to have been noted and addressed and that early resolution of the funding of the Newbridge repairs be addressed by the minister.

"I am also calling on DCC local members to get rid of the planters to make room for when the A483 is shut. It's not a case of if, it’s a case of when. The perfect storm is about to happen again.

"Note also that the first email I sent to the minister was replied to after two days with the news that she won't reply until up to September 16.

"Note also that money to repair the Newbridge Road collapse has been refused by the Welsh Government. I bet if it was in South Wales they would have had the money already.

"In my opinion another case of the north-south divide."

The deputy leader of Wrexham Council has now confirmed the long term closure of the key route is not on the cards.

* Cllr David A Bithell said the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent (NMWTRA), which manages the road, had recently issued a statutory notice in relation to the A483.

However, he said the temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) would only result in it being shut temporarily in the event of a crash or roadworks.

He said: “The TTRO is for 18 months duration to allow work activities to proceed during that period.

“This provides NMWTRA with the flexibility to implement the work that needs to be undertaken on the routes with the temporary speed limits etc being put in place, only when needed, and most often overnight.

“This does not mean the road will be closed for 18 months.

“This is a TTRO which is required to undertake the planned routine cyclic maintenance programme on the A483 but can also be used reactively in the event of an incident e.g. following safety barrier collision or potholes, to allow a repair.

“TTROs are issued as part of a statutory process that the Welsh Government follow as a highway authority to implement temporary changes to speed limits etc. for driver and workforce safety reasons.”