* One of the diversion signs, at the lights on Castle Street.
One
of Llangollen’s county councillors has revealed the assurances he sought from
highways chiefs to prevent a major diversion through the town causing traffic
chaos.
Two
overnight closures of the A483 in both directions between the Chirk and Halton roundabouts
from Thursday-Saturday, from 8pm until 6am, to allow essential repairs to the
viaduct has led to traffic being diverted though Llangollen.
On the first night, last
night, traffic was extremely heavy on the A5 and along Castle Street leading to
complaints from residents.
Asked
by llanblogger for his reaction to this, County Councillor Melvyn Mile revealed
the contents of his email exchanges in advance of the works with national and
local highways officials.
Writing
first to the North & Mid-Wales Trunk Road Agency (NMWTRA), which is in
charge of the operation, he said: “I’d
like to point out that the last time the A483 was closed due to high winds, it
caused total chaos in Llangollen.
“Presently we have temporary traffic lights on the
A5 controlling an excavation just inside the town’s easterly limit, together
with temporary lights on the main A5/Castle Street junction.
“You claim that the situation will be monitored, I
hope that means men on the ground (Amberon or someone similar) ready to enforce
a One-Way system if needs be from the Llangollen Health Centre to the east on
the A539 to the old Ty’n y Wern hotel to the east on the A5. A loop of approximately
1 mile.
“The A539 is too narrow to allow two HGV’s to pass
each other 100 metres to the east of Dee bridge in Llangollen. It caused much
frustration and shows of bad temper at the previous closure.
“Two HGV’s using Castle St together means that the
one heading north will have to mount the kerb.
“I appreciate that it’s being done overnight but
there is still considerable traffic involved. You may think that I’m
scaremongering but I saw the result of the last closure and believe me, I’m
not.”
Replying to his concerns, Nia
Louise Lennox of the NMWTRA said: “We
are very aware of the traffic disruption that was caused when the two viaducts
were recently closed due to strong winds.
“The works for each of the two overnight
consecutive closures have been planned to ensure that the A483 can be re-opened
to traffic before traffic volumes significantly increase in the early morning.
“It is expected that that A483 will be re-opened by
04.00 however a contingency of 2 hours has been allowed for to ensure the road
is open by 06.00 as advertised. Over-night traffic volumes are much lower than
daytime and morning peak traffic volumes.
“Therefore we do not expect significant disruption
along the diversion route. Denbighshire Council Streetworks team have been
consulted and are satisfied with the planned arrangements for implementing and
the signing of the diversion route.
“The traffic management sub-contractor will be
patrolling the diversion route throughout the period of the closure and will be
ready to take action to alleviate any disruption that occurs under the
direction of NMWTRA personnel who will be in attendance on site.
“The Viaduct is a vital piece of infrastructure. The
integrity of the top slab supporting the carriageway has recently been
compromised and urgent repairs are needed to prevent the void within the
structure being flooded with surface water. The damaging effects of water
penetration are accumulative and must be addressed as soon as possible and
before the Trunk Road Summer embargo periods, hence the short notice period.”
And from Tony Ward, Denbighshire County Council;s Head of Highways,
Facilities and Environmental Services, Cllr Mile received the message: “Having reviewed the narrow section of road
east of the Ponsonby Arms on Street view we have decided to erect temporary
traffic lights whilst the diversion is in place.
“We feel it’s a marginal
decision given the expected light HGV flow over night but the down side risk
created by erecting signals is small and is easily justified.
“We have also asked the
TM contractor/designer to drive the route tomorrow morning to check the latest
situation and to advise/discuss with us any other possible current and arising
issues that we may be able to provide mitigation for.”
Cllr Mile told llanblogger: “I did everything I could
to ensure traffic congestion caused by the roadworks would be minimised.”
