Summer of discontent (From Milford Mercury)

Summer of discontent

9:23am Thursday 25th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

There are fears major refurbishment works on one of the county’s busiest roads could cause traffic chaos this summer.

Extensive bridge deck works on Priory Bridge, in Haverfordwest, (Freemens Way) will begin next Wednesday and are expected to last nine weeks.

Haverfordwest mayor councillor Jim Campbell said: “It will obviously cause a great deal of disruption and I regret that it could not have been done at a better time.”

Traffic management measures including a mandatory 40mph speed restriction will be put in place along the A4076 to control the traffic flow and protect the workforce.

Town councillor Cherie Harvey questioned the timing of the works and said she empathised with those who would be affected.

“I know the work has to be done but I thought they would have taken into consideration the timing.

“I feel sorry for the townspeople and commuters,” she said.

Cllr Harvey said she feared the bridge works could add significant time onto commuters’ journey times but hoped the works would not dampen summer trade coming to the town.

The South Wales Trunk Road Agency (SWTRA) said every effort would be made to minimise inconvenience to road users and provision will be made to maintain controlled access for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the bridge during the works.

A SWTRA spokesman said: “This is a heavily trafficked section of highway and unfortunately with this type of work there will Summer of discontent inevitably be some disruption to road users while the works are in progress.”

The main contractors carrying out the work will be Carillion Regional Civil Engineering and consulting engineer Mott McDonald will be supervising the works, on behalf of the SWTRA acting as agent to the Welsh Assembly. Cllr Campbell said the town council’s input into the plans had been negligible and he intended to find out more details regarding the works and their possible impact on the town.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)