Disruptive roadworks on a stretch of the A55 in Flintshire are due to get underway later this month. Seven weeks of works are planned on the road between Broughton Retail Park and the Wales-England border.
Full closures are scheduled at night and weekends, and single-lane closures during the day. Planned diversions will mostly skirt around the retail park but drivers face the week-long prospect of a 12-mile detour via Penyffordd, Llay and Rossett.
Traffic Wales said the work, starting on January 26, is needed to repair concrete slabs under the road and to replace the surfacing with an “improved product”. Gulleys, manholes and a section of barriers will also be upgraded.
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With a new surface, Traffic Wales expects the A55 to be quieter here, as the existing transverse joints will be removed – these jolt vehicles as they pass over them. It’s also hoped there will be “fewer unplanned closures for emergency repairs” following the work.
Traffic Wales said: “Since January 2020, we have done about 98 temporary road repairs on this section. More than half of these repairs were done during the day with rolling roadblocks and overnight. Doing this work now will reduce daytime disruption from roadblocks and from overnight closures.”
Before the main work begin, slip roads at junction 36A for Broughton Retail Park will also be repaired and resurfaced. When the focus moves to the A55 itself, work will start on the eastbound side of the carriageway, followed by westbound.
Traffic Wales said: “We will close one side of the road at a time (eastbound first, then westbound). This is to repair or replace the concrete slabs and put down two layers of new surfacing.
“We will close lanes from Monday to Friday between 06:00 and 20:00. We will close the road overnight from 20:00 to 06:00 on weekdays and close it from Friday 20:00 to Monday 06:00 on weekends.”
Traffic Wales considered using a contraflow system rather than whole carriageway closures. However this was dismissed. “After studying the traffic patterns, we decided not to because it would be more dangerous and cause more disruption on the roads.
“During the construction, we will close the entire road in one direction at a time on weekends and overnight. This is better than using a contraflow, which would affect both directions for the entire duration of the project.”
In an attempt to minimise disruption at busiest times, single lanes only will be closed on weekdays during the daytime. Full closures are only scheduled for nights and at weekends when traffic is usually lower.
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The way the has been planned, it means lane closures on the eastbound carriageway, from February 25 to March 3, will stretch all the way from junction 35 at Dobshill, to junction 37 at the Posthouse roundabout for Chester and Wrexham.
Traffic Wales explained: “The start of the traffic cones needs to be positioned before junction 35 Dobshill due to visibility. It is not safe to put the cones closer to the works area. This layout will help minimise the disruption when changing the traffic management from daytime lane closures to overnight closure.”
A schedule of the known works so far has also been released. This is dependent on the weather and so is subject to change.
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Preparatory works
- Jan 26-29: Junction 36A Broughton retail park eastbound on-slip and lane closed overnight from 8pm.
- Feb 2, Feb 5 and Feb 6: J36A Broughton retail park westbound off-slip and lane closed overnight from 8pm-6am.
- Feb 3 6am–Feb 5 6am: J36A Broughton retail park westbound off-slip and lane closed for 24 hours.
Main resurfacing works eastbound
- Feb 11–Mar 3: Overnight weekday closures, weekend closures and daytime lane closures
- Feb 11–23: A55 closed overnight eastbound from junction 36 Warren Interchange to junction 36A Broughton retail park, from 8pm-6am every weekday night.
- Feb 16 8pm–Feb 19 6am: A55 weekend closure eastbound from junction 36 Warren Interchange and junction 36a Broughton retail park.
- Feb 23 8pm–Feb 25 8pm: A55 weekend closure eastbound from junction 36 Warren Interchange and junction 36a Broughton retail park.
- Feb 23 8pm–Mar 3 6am: A55 closed overnight eastbound from junction 35 Dobshill to junction 38 Posthouse.
- Feb 12 6am–Mar 2 8pm: Daytime lane closures.
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William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
