Yahoo News Busy road off A55 junction in sudden closure for 'public safety'
A busy road off the A55 will be closed for three weeks after a council declared it unsafe for drivers. Due to the condition of the carriageway and "in the interest of public safety", the A550 (Tinkersdale) has been closed between its junctions with Dobshill Roundabout and Glynne Way.
The condition of the road has deteriorated significantly between scheduled safety inspections and is considered unsafe for all highway users. Flintshire council said the winter and spring seasons of 2024 have seen substantial and prolonged rainfall across the county, and that this section of highway is heavily covered in foliage, which prevents the road surface from drying out.
A spokesperson added: "As a result, the damp conditions have accelerated the deteriorating condition of the road, which is now beyond pothole patching and the road now requires full carriageway resurfacing. Historically, Tinkersdale has been subject to carriageway subsidence and there is evidence that the substructure is still slowly moving. This movement, the prolonged wet conditions, and lack of direct sunlight have all contributed to the rapid decline of the structure of the carriageway.
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"Council officers have assessed the road and engaged with contractors to prepare a programme of works, which will commence from Thursday 4th July. This includes resurfacing in the worst sections of the road and undertaking additional maintenance operations along this section whilst the road is closed. Works are expected to be completed within the next 3 weeks.
"Affected traffic is being diverted via the A550(T), A5104 ( Broughton ), and B5125.
"Key stakeholders, such as the emergency services and transport operators, along with internal teams such as the waste/recycling collection teams have been notified, and we will continue to liaise with these stakeholders to ensure that these essential works have as little impact on their operations as possible.
"Flintshire County Council would like to thank residents and businesses in the area for their patience and understanding, and apologises for any inconvenience caused during these essential works."
