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Landslip to close road for days | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Part of one of Wales' main roads, the A470 linking the north and south, is likely to be closed for the rest of the week after a landslip. | |
Motorists have been warned they face an 18-mile diversion after the A470 was closed in both directions between Mallwyd and Tabor in Gwynedd. | |
Meanwhile, some parents are angry after a bus taking pupils to Ysgol y Gader in Dolgellau used the closed road. | |
Gwynedd council said it had told the bus company about the diversions. | |
The diversion using the A489 and A487 will add 18 miles to the journey to rejoin the A470. | The diversion using the A489 and A487 will add 18 miles to the journey to rejoin the A470. |
The site of the incident - which happened on Tuesday night - is a few hundred metres from an area hit by a landslip in 2005, which closed the road for several days. | |
It is on a stretch that cuts through the steep pass at Bwlch Oerddrws, heading towards Dinas Mawddwy. | It is on a stretch that cuts through the steep pass at Bwlch Oerddrws, heading towards Dinas Mawddwy. |
Emlyn Williams, the network area manager for the North Wales Trunk Road Agency, said it was unlikely the road would be reopened until the end of the week, and even then there could still be some delays for motorists. | |
The restrictions could be in place for several weeks, or even months, until permanent repairs can be put in place Emlyn Williams, North Wales Trunk Road Agency | |
"There is a strong possibility there will be some traffic restrictions such as a speed limit because the safety fence has been totally destroyed," he said. | |
"This could also mean traffic lights - but that could cause problems to heavy vehicles as they have to restart on a hill. | |
"The restrictions could be in place for several weeks, or even months, until permanent repairs can be put in place. | |
"There is no weakness in the road, it is simply that it is on the side of a mountain on a steep slope and the nature of the area is that the land above is higher." | |
Local councillor John Pughe Roberts said he had seen the impact of the landslide, which has strewn mud and rocks across the carriageway. | Local councillor John Pughe Roberts said he had seen the impact of the landslide, which has strewn mud and rocks across the carriageway. |
"It is nature - what can you do about it?" he said. | "It is nature - what can you do about it?" he said. |
"It's going to mean a long drive around for those who need to get past." | "It's going to mean a long drive around for those who need to get past." |
'Safety concerns' | |
Meanwhile, it has it emerged that pupils were taken to school at Ysgol y Gader on a bus along the pass on Wednesday morning, despite the fact the road was closed. | |
Parents said they were concerned their children's safety was put at risk. | |
Delyth Lloyd Griffiths, who has children at the school, said: "I'm very concerned, I can't believe it." | |
She added that the road closure was "very inconvenient" as it is one of the "few ways out of this village". | |
A Gwynedd council spokesperson said: "We can confirm that one school bus travelling from the Dinas Mawddwy area to Ysgol y Gader in Dolgellau travelled along the A470 road at Bwlch Oerddrws this morning. | |
"We have contacted the bus company to explain that all buses must travel along the diverted route using the A489 and A487 roads until this particular stretch of the A470 road is reopened." |