Details of the planned two week closure of the A489 Newtown to Kerry road have today been confirmed by Powys County Council.
As reported by MyNewtown earlier this year, the road will be closed to allow contractors to undertake work on the new bypass which means the main road will have to be closed, forcing motorists on a diversion and worrying residents in outlaying communities about the number of people seeking shortcuts down local lanes and roads.
The road will be closed either side of Lower Brimmon Farm, near Newtown from April 16 .
Contractors, Alun Griffiths, have informed Powys County Council that they will be working extended hours and weekends, and are confident that the measures will ensure that the works will be completed within the two week closure. However the work is dependent on good weather and subject to unknown ground conditions.
Cabinet Member for Highways, Councillor Liam Fitzpatrick said: “The alignment work is complex and requires significant traffic management to make sure motorists and bypass construction workers are safe throughout the operation.
“A number of management operations were considered and the two week closure with a diversion, although frustrating and inconvenient, is judged to cause the least disruption. An infrastructure project the size of Newtown Bypass was always likely to have an impact on the road network and we ask motorists for their patience. The alternative to the road closure would have been traffic lights for 12-weeks and a HGV ban.
“A public meeting has already been held in Kerry and local communities advised about the closure and the company is doing all it can to minimise the unavoidable disruption. We understand that the closure may inconvenience residents for a short time but the work is essential and will greatly benefit motorists in the future,” he added.
Photo: Part of the A489 between Newtown and Kerry which will be closed for two weeks in April (photo: Google Street View)
