A planned closure of a North Wales bridge this summer is likely to cause "major disruption and inconvenience" for motorists.
Conwy Council has confirmed the Llandudno Junction flyover across the A55 leading to Conwy town is to close completely for more than two months for refurbishment. It means Conwy Bridge will be inaccessible for traffic from May 9 to July 20, reports North Wales Live.
The work will involve renovation of the flyover's waterproofing, movement joints and drainage. During the closure, access to Conwy town from the A55 will instead be via Junction 17, instead of Junction 18, with traffic diverted through the Conwy Tunnel. Walkers and cyclists will be unaffected.
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The plans have raised concerns over the impact on local and through traffic, and on the area's summer tourism season. Work will continue through the summer half-term and the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. A "second phase" is also planned in 2023 but details are not yet available other than it "will be scheduled at a similar time."
Letters were due to be sent to local residents in the coming days but the news leaked out via concerned councillors. In a letter sent to elected representatives yesterday, Conwy Council said the work could not take place over the quieter winter months.
It said: "We need dry weather to complete the work. We have avoided the main school holidays by starting the work after Easter and scheduling it to finish before the summer holidays."
"Businesses open as usual signs" will be placed on roads to limit the impact on the local economy. Arriva and other bus operators will be amending their routes and coaches will still be permitted to enter Conwy via junction 17.
But the council accepted the closure will cause issues. They said "We understand that this work will cause major disruption and inconvenience because the bridge is a major route into Conwy. It's because this is a key route that the work is so important, to keep the bridge safe and open for years to come.
"The bridge was last closed for major work in 1995. We are aiming to carry out the work seven days a week with some overnight work, to get the work done as quickly as possible."
Some businesses were unhappy to have only learnt of the closure on social media. One said: "This will affect so many of the businesses in town who are just recovering from Covid lockdown, who have had no consultation."
As well as the impact on residents and tourists east of Conwy, there are fears the disruption will spread out to affect communities east of the town. These concerns have been magnified by potential incidents on the A55 which, according to Cllr Anne McCaffrey, could cause the local road network to grind to a halt.
Such incidents, from traffic accidents to roadworks, often sees motorists using the narrow Sychnant Pass as an alternative. The pass only recently fully reopened after roadworks caused its partial closure for nearly three months. On occasions, disrupted A55 traffic is sent on long diversions down the Conwy Valley.
Cllr McCaffrey, who represents the Capelulo ward, is writing to the county council to set up a meeting with councillors to discuss what mitigation measures will be put in place. She said: "Snarl-ups on the A55 can gridlock Conwy and turn the Synchant Pass into a rat run, which is clearly wasn’t designed for.
"So this closure has the potential to cause significant disruption to communities. It could aggravate what is already a very difficult situation for local residents and businesses.
"The work is a powder keg waiting to explode unless there is clear signage put in place for motorists. The council has said it needs clement weather for the work to take place but during the pandemic visitor numbers have risen and this could add to potential problems.
"I'm writing to the council to set up a meeting. I'm sure mitigation measures are planned but at the moment we don't know what these are. There needs to be good signage and communication to ensure problems are minimised."
During the works, access to Conwy Bridge will be maintained from Conwy to the Lidl supermarket in Llandudno Junction. Train services are unaffected. A 20-week refurbishment of Conwy Bridge took place in 2016.
Conwy Council said that during the work, access and traffic direction will change at the Daily Post/Weekly News roundabout. A spokesperson said: "Traffic will still be able to access Deganwy, Llandudno Junction and the Tesco roundabout, but not from all directions."
