Eryri's big dig

BUT £207M TUNNEL PROJECT MAY LEAD TO BIG JAMS TOO

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

WORK is continuing on a £207m tunnel that could transform part of Eryri (Snowdonia).

Engineers aim to bore a 3.4km tunnel under the Dwyryd Estuary near Porthmadog to replace 3km of existing overhead lines.

Over three weeks late last year, a specially-built tunnel boring machine (TBM) was delivered in 27 sections to the site compound in Minffordd. As well as the shield, tail skin, cutter head and thrust unit, components for the giant drilling machine included 15 gantries.

On Monday, April 14, police will be escorting an abnormal load from the Minffordd compound along the A487 in Gwynedd and across the North Wales coast via the A55. Once across the border, it continues on the M53.

North Wales Police have warned motorists to “allow extra time for journeys” and, if necessary, use alternative routes. Starting from Minffordd at 9.30am, the escorted load will travel along Britannia Terrace into Porthmadog and up the High Street (A4971) to get onto the A487. After travelling north, the convoy will switch to the A55 at Treborth interchange near Bangor.