A55 stretches to close next week as support given to affected businesses

Roadworks lie in store for motorists in two North Wales counties from next week. Sections of the A55[1] in Flintshire and Conwy will be shut for overnight works and a Conwy Valley[2] road is to close for three weeks for gas pipe maintenance. Westbound A55 drivers in Flintshire[3] will encounter a diversion route on Wednesday and Thursday nights, December 6-7.

The dual-carriageway is shutting from 8pm-6am each night between junction 33B, near Ewloe[4], and junction 33, Northop[5] Interchange. Other roads and junctions in the vicinity will also be affected while resurfacing works are carried out on the A55[6].

Full closures will be in place in three nearby locations:

• Smithy Lane, Alltami[9]
• Pinfold Lane junction with A55 westbound
• The A55 westbound “continuation sliproad” at junction 34 Ewloe.

A55 westbound traffic will be diverted off the A55 at Junction 33B via the A494 and A5119.

Drivers can then link back up with the A55 at Junction 33, Northop Interchange. North Wales Live has launched a WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone[10] Traffic Wales said: “Localised and bespoke arrangements will be in place for access to commercial premises affected.

The works are being carried out overnight in December when traffic flows are historically lower to minimise disruption.”

The westbound Penmaenbach tunnel is closing for two nights early next week (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

A55 in Conwy

News of more work on the A55 Penmaenbach Tunnel in Conwy[11] was greeted with a collective sigh from regular users. Like the Conwy and Pen-y-clip tunnels, it’s shut three times a year for scheduled checks, and wall repairs were also needed at Penmaenbach following a fatal crash in late October[12]. Wandering sheep and broken-down vehicles have also caused hold-ups at Penmaenbach headland this summer. “Never known a place with so many closures,” said a driver on social media when the latest works were announced.

Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter[13] sent twice daily to your inbox On Monday and Tuesday, December 4-5, Penmaenbach Tunnel will be closed to westbound traffic for two nights, 7pm-7am. As motorists will be diverted around the headland via a contraflow, few disruptions are expected.

However there will be 3.2m width restriction in place for larger vehicles. Traffic Wales has not explained why the closures are needed. Regular checks are undertaken on the tunnel’s fans, lighting, power systems and public address systems. You can

Wales & West Utilities will be upgrading gas pipes in the Ty’n-Y-Groes area. During these works, the Tal-y-Cafn to Ty’n-Y-Groes road will be closed to traffic. A local diversion route will be put in place. There’s more on this project here.[15]

Find out what’s happening on the roads near you

References

1. ^ A55 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
2. ^ Valley (www.dailypost.co.uk)
3. ^ Flintshire (www.dailypost.co.uk)
4. ^ Ewloe (www.dailypost.co.uk)
5. ^ Northop (www.dailypost.co.uk)
6. ^ the A55 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
7. ^ Driver gives police incriminating footage after crashing into woman’s car (www.dailypost.co.uk)
8. ^ Lorry braking suddenly could have ‘unzipped’ Menai bridge and caused ‘catastrophic loss of life’ (www.dailypost.co.uk)
9. ^ Alltami (www.dailypost.co.uk)
10. ^ WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone (www.dailypost.co.uk)
11. ^ Conwy (www.dailypost.co.uk)
12. ^ fatal crash in late October (www.dailypost.co.uk)
13. ^ Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter (www.dailypost.co.uk)
14. ^ You can