Road closure for bypass works
A major road in mid Wales will be closed for two weeks for work on a town bypass.
Motorists are being warned that the A489 Newtown to Kerry road will be closed for a fortnight from April 16 as work on the new bypass reaches a crucial stage.
It will be closed either side of Lower Brimmon Farm to allow complex alignment work between the new bypass and the A489.
Contractor, Alun Griffiths, has informed Powys County Council it will be working extended hours and weekends, and is 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.
