Wrexham Council give estimated date for Newbridge repairs

The B5605 situated between Cefn Mawr and Chirk has been closed since Storm Christoph in January 2021. 

The closure has caused huge frustration for residents and businesses over the time taken for repairs. It has also seen Llangollen flooded with traffic at times when the A483 Newbridge bypass is closed. 

£2.8m of Welsh Government funding was secured in April 2022, with hopes the road would be open towards the end of 2023.

A planning application was finally submitted in May by Contractors Jones Bros, and some preparation work has already taken place at the site, including the clearance of vegetation and the diversion of BT cables. 

An update sent out to councillors in July detailed the type of work that could be expected in recent months, and that there were hopes the work would be completed by May 2025.

The type of work scheduled to be completed in August included risk assessments, inspection tests and working methods being agreed. While in September, the access track was scheduled to be completed, as were the upper level soil nailing and addendum to the planning application. 

In addition, it was expected that the partners would agree a target price this month, however there are concerns that the scheme can be delivered with the current budget available.

A statement in the council's report said: "Having regard for the significant design challenges and design delays, and compounded inflation during the stage one phase, it is unlikely that the scheme can be delivered within the budget available.

Newbridge Road.

"The current programme indicates a scheme completion date in the first few weeks of the next financial period. This impact strongly suggests that a RRF submission will be required to meet the shortfall as the scheme approaches completion. WCBC officers are already in discussion with Welsh Government to manage any subsequent future grant bid submissions."

When questioned on whether the local authority had enough money to complete the repairs, they admitted that funding will be a "challenge", but are hopeful to wrap repairs up in spring next year.

A spokesperson for Wrexham Council said: “The land slip on the B5605 is a complex and difficult engineering challenge and whilst we have a let a contract for the delivery of the repairs, this is still a challenging set of circumstances.

“Officers are meeting with the contractors and the commercial advisors regularly.

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“We have a final design now and this requires extensive accommodation and preparatory works to provide access and egress to facilitate the repair.

“We provide regular and routine updates on the project via All Member Information Reports. We are committed to continue to update everyone on a regular basis as milestones and emerging issues are encountered.

“Whilst we await a detailed breakdown of costs, especially bearing in mind we are early in contract repair works and we are conscious of the commercial sensitivity we know funding will be a challenge.  As firmer costs emerge we will update as appropriate.

“Timetable for delivery again is challenging although we still hope to see a completion date in and around spring next year.”