Chirk bypass road repair hold-ups linked to terror attacks
Repairs to a road bridge have been held up because resources are being used in terrorist prevention.
Traffic travelling north on the A5 and A483 has been diverted through Chirk all week after a crash on the bypass which damaged bridge safety barriers.
It emerged that highway contractors have struggled to source replacement barriers because stockpiles have been pressed into use in London following recent terror attacks.
The work was expected to be completed on Thursday and the road was being reopened today.
A woman was hurt in the accident on Monday evening when her car came to rest perilously close to plunging over the bridge over the River Ceiriog.
With traffic having to divert through Chirk residents have complained of nose-to-tail hold ups each day. Yesterday queues stretched back almost to the Gledrid island.
Rhys Davies from the Welsh Government press office said: "A traffic collision on the A5 Halton to Gledrid on Monday resulted in a section of the parapet of the Ceiriog viaduct being demolished and requiring closure of the road.
"Temporary measures were put in place which allowed the southbound carriageway to be reopened on Tuesday.
“The northbound carriageway remained closed with local diversions in place. We worked to source specialist contractors to install temporary barriers, however we were gold they are currently involved in other projects including installing barriers in London following recent incidents there.
"Despite this, we are optimistic of having the road open by Friday morning at the latest."
This week saw representatives from the Welsh Government, Highways England and local authorities meet in Chirk to discuss the next phase of improvement works to the A5/A483, a main, north to south Wales route and one connecting Shropshire and the Midlands to Wales.
Six months of work to reconfigure the Gledrid Roundabout is almost at an end. Sections of the roundabout have been closed at night at various times during the work with the traffic diverted through Chirk and the villages of St Martins and Gobowen.
Now talks will begin on how the Halton roundabout at the northern end of the bypass can be improved.
The Welsh government said yesterday ir was too early to discuss any programme or start date for the work.
“Longer term, we will soon be investigating plans for improvements to the A483/A5 Halton junction with the intention of increasing capacity and reducing congestion which will improve the safety of road users in this area.”
