'Chaos' fears as four weeks of A55 closures start this weekend

ONE OF FIVE DIVERSIONS COULD MEAN 24.8 MILE DETOUR

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

Eastbound A55 approaching the Dobshill turn-off. On this section, the road still has transverse joints and its surface is deteriorating

(Google)

FOUR weeks of roadworks are due to get underway on the A55 in Flintshire tomorrow.

Repairs and upgrades are planned on the eastbound carriageway between junction 34 at Ewloe and junction 35 at Dobshill.

On weekdays, the eastbound carriageway will be reduced to one lane between 6am-8pm. On weekday nights, from 8pm-6am, the carriageway will be completely shut. At weekends both eastbound lanes will be closed round the clock - from 8pm on Friday until 6am on Monday.

Five sets of diversions have been organised by councils in Flintshire and Cheshire. The longest is a 24.8-mile detour taking at least 36 minutes. At busier times, this is likely to take longer.

Since the scheme was announced, drivers have lined up to declare it a “nightmare”. A local man said: “Safe to say it’s going to be chaos!”

Transport secretary Ken Skates accepts the roadworks might cause “frustration”.

In the main, the longer diversions are an attempt to protect villages from being overwhelmed by HGVs and through-traffic. Drivers have been quick to point out unofficial alternatives - though these risk swamping places like Mold, Buckley and Penymynydd from one direction, and Hawarden, Ewloe and Sandycroft from the other.