A STRETCH of the A55 - labelled as "dangerous" will close for 24-hour periods over three weeks to allow roadworks to take place.

The A55 eastbound carriageway between J16 Puffin Roundabout and J17 at Penmaenbach Headland will be subjected to 24-hour full closures from Sunday, January 28.

Works will include essential structural and carriageway surfacing repairs, infrastructure inspection and maintenance. 

A statement by Traffic Wales, The Welsh Government's traffic information service for motorways and trunk roads, said: "24 hours full closures of the eastbound carriageway of the A55 at Penmaenbach Headland between J16 Puffin Roundabout and J17 Conwy Morfa.

"Traffic will be diverted via contraflow through the main (westbound) tunnel at Penmaenbach. There will be a 30mph speed restriction in place through the traffic management.

"The works are being carried out in late January - February when traffic flows are historically lower to minimise disruption."

Earlier this month, Janet Finch-Saunders, MS for Aberconwy, said there had been 25 crashes on the Eastbound A55 carriageway at the headland of Penmaenbach point during 2023/2024.

She had previously highlighted to Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, that there had been nine recorded incidents where the crash barrier/aluminium railings separating National Cycle Route Five from the Eastbound carriageway of the A55 were damaged in 2023.

The number of collisions on the Eastbound headland are up from zero in 2020/21, three in 2021/22, and eight in 2022/23. Whilst the Eastbound route has seen 25 crashes this financial year, the Westbound route at Penmaenbach point has only seen one crash.

Mrs Finch-Saunders, who has written to again to Mr Waters, said: “There is no doubt in my mind that the A55 at Penmaenbach can be dangerous for road users, pedestrians, and cyclists, so the Welsh Government should look at options to reduce the risk of further incidents.

“Urgent action is also needed to see the contraflow system on the A55 used when there are collisions on the Eastbound A55 at this point.  As Penmaenmawr Town Council have worked hard to highlight, opting not to use the contraflow system, in favour of diversions along the A470 and A5,  results in serious congestion over the Sychnant Pass.

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“If it is the case that the contraflow system takes three hours to implement, and cannot be implemented outside normal working hours, such as on weekends, it has to be questioned if it is fit for purpose”.

During the works, A temporary walk/cycle way will be created while a wall is repaired. This will be located within the closed section of highway (in lane one) to ensure that the public can continue to use the path safely.

Abnormal loads over 3.2m wide will be escorted through the traffic management during pre-determined time slots Monday – Friday between 9am and 12.30pm and 1.30 and 3.30pm. Vehicles are asked to park in the waiting areas at junction 19 on-slip Westbound and junction 14 at Madryn eastbound and phone 0300 123 1213. Traffic Officers will escort them through the roadworks.

Provisions will be in place for these vehicles to park up overnight at the lay-by after J14 Madryn (eastbound) and adjacent to J23 Llanddulas (westbound).