'Delays possible' as A55 and A487 abnormal load deliveries start from today

There has been a warning of delays as a series of abnormal load deliveries start today. For the next three weeks large pieces of a giant drilling machine will be transported through North Wales for a massive infrastructure project in Gwynedd.

The Tunnel Boring Machine(TBM) measures 166 metres long and weighs 436 tonnes once assembled. It will be used on the National Grid's Eryri Visual Impact Provision (VIP) scheme. The VIP project in Eryri National Park aims to reduce the visual impact of overhead line across the Dwyryd Estuary from Minffordd to Llandecwyn. The TBM will be used to excavate the tunnel that will contain the new electricity cables that will replace the 3km of overhead line that cross the estuary.

From (today) Monday 18 November for a period of up to three weeks, a total of 27 deliveries will be coming to the project site in Minffordd along the A55, A487 and A497. Of these deliveries, 21 will be Abnormal Indivisible Load (AIL) movements with eight loads requiring a full police escort and 13 loads requiring partial police escort. The other six deliveries will be normal HGVs which do not require any police escort.

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The widest delivery loads will be travelling through North Wales today, tomorrow and on Monday November 25. Traffic Wales today updated the timings and said that delays were possible and people should allow extra time for journeys.

Timings:

Departures from A55 Chester to Minffordd Roundabout, near Porthmadog.

• November 18: 11:30-14:30

• November 19: 6:30-9:30 and 8:30-10:00

• November 25: 9:30-12:30 and 11:30-13:00

The delivery loads will be moving at speeds of up to 40mph for the first section of the route via the A55 dual carriageway and then between 20mph and 30mph for the majority of the route via the A487. There will be times when the loads reduce in speed such as when passing through the narrowest part of the route at Penmorfa(A487), where they will travel at walking speed.

The TBM is expected to complete tunnelling and reach its destination in Llandecwyn in mid-2026, with the pylons and overhead line due for removal in 2029. National Grid and its contractor Hochtief UK have been working closely with the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent (NMWTRA), Welsh Government, North Wales Police, relevant local authorities and a specialist haulage contractor, Fracht Group UK, to carefully plan the route and timings to minimise disruption to local people and traffic wherever possible.

Steve Ellison, National Grid’s senior project manager for Eryri VIP, said: “These deliveries have been many months in the planning, and we work hard to minimise any disruption that deliveries of this kind can cause. The movements are occurring at these times to try and minimise disruption to the local road network and we appreciate the cooperation and understanding of the local community.”

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