Seven-week road closure will see 70-mile diversion

Drivers are set to face diversions of up to 70 miles as a major road will fully close for seven weeks for a wall to be fixed.

In November 2023, part of a wall beneath the A470 near Talerddig in Powys collapsed into a river, leaving a hole on the side of the road.

The road closed for about a week while temporary measures were put in place to allow one lane to reopen with traffic lights.

Now both lanes will be closed 24 hours a day from 31 October to 20 December while a permanent repair is carried out, followed by the installation of temporary traffic lights until 14 February.

The Welsh government advised motorists to plan ahead, adding it understood the work would cause disruption but it was essential for the road to stay open in the future.

All motor vehicles, including emergency services, will be blocked from using the road, but pedestrian and bike access will continue when safe.

The signposted diversion - taking drivers on roads of the same or better standard - will see westbound traffic diverted via Caersws, Newtown on the A483 and then Welshpool and Mallwyd, Gwynedd on the A458, to re-join the route at Glantwymyn.

Eastbound traffic will follow the same diversion route in reverse.

Traffic Wales said the wall - which supported the A470 above the adjacent Afon Iaen - was more than 5m (16ft) tall while the carriageway was less than 8m (26ft) wide, meaning the full width of the carriageway was needed to construct new foundations for the wall.

A temporary embankment north of the site to allow through traffic was considered, but deemed "unviable" due to "ecological restrictions", it added.

There will be disruption to school bus timetables, with a further update to be issued, but "every effort has been made to minimise the disruption to journeys", meaning no compensation will be paid to business owners in the area.

Plaid Cymru’s Elwyn Vaughan, who represents the Glantwymyn ward on Powys council, said residents understood the work had to happen and were pleased it had been committed to, but said it was "unfortunate it will take up to seven weeks, which will without a doubt have a number of negative effects locally".

Vaughan also raised concerns about the "huge diversion" of up to 70 miles, adding: "We all know there are small local roads which are totally unsuitable. I would urge people not to use them if they can avoid doing so because they will further compound problems locally."

Vaughan said the closure would affect a wide range of people including commuters, school children and local businesses, with some shops claiming to have lost out "substantially" during the previous one-week closure.

"Seven weeks will certainly hit them again leading up to Christmas, and we also have major companies locally carrying timber to the mill in Chirk, for instance - it will affect and cause problems for them.

"[But] we're thankful that the contractors have been appointed and we hope for decent weather and that it can be completed as soon as possible."