Warning of chaos as 'Back Road' set to close for five weeks
Powys County Council has announced that the street, better known as ‘the back road’, will be closed for ‘essential repairs’ from Jehu Road to Seven Stars junction from April 20 - May 26.
These are notoriously busy weeks for traffic as summer approaches with the closure taking in the two May Bank Holiday weekends.
Vehicles travelling to Welshpool from the Llanfair Caereinion direction are being taken on an official diversion from the Raven Roundabout to Guilsfield, Arddleen and Pool Quay, but it will likely lead to more traffic cutting over Red Bank from the Guilsfield Road.
It will also create issues for traffic coming from the Newtown direction.
The notice has sparked an urgent plea from Cllr Graham Breeze for Powys County Council to work with Wales & West Utilities to prevent a full closure.
“Any motorists wishing to access the town centre (Broad Street & High Street & Raven Street) from the Newtown, Berriew, Forden, Montgomery, Trewern, Four Crosses direction will have no return exit available, because of the one-way system, other than via the long diversion,” said Cllr Breeze, who said businesses will also be impacted.
“The situation is worsened by the fact that the proposal takes in both May Bank Holiday Mondays, which traditionally produce the heaviest volumes of traffic of the year for Welshpool.
“There is also the danger that motorists will seek out alternatives through town routes which are already proving extremely dangerous and the subject of requests for traffic calming measures and speed restrictions.”
He has asked whether temporary changes to the one-way system can be made to avoid the full closures.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|