'Faulty' surface on new £23m road

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Sections of a newly completed £23m road may have to be resurfaced after a fault was found in the carriageway.

The problems on parts of a five mile (8km) stretch of the A499 between Caernarfon and Pwllheli in Gwynedd have been caused by defective materials.

Businesses and local politicians are angry, as they say the work will lead to more traffic delays.

A Gwynedd council spokesman said talks with the contractors were ongoing on the remedial work.

The road was built by Gwynedd council and Carillion as partners, although the road surface material was provided by Tarmac.

The problem seems to stem from the mix of crushed material used in the road surface which seems to contain some 'softer' stone, which could wear quickly.

I hope the lights are not there for too long, that it's quick and painless, and that they don't leave the lights there over the weekend Jonathan Williams-Elis, local businessman

Gwynedd councillor Owain Williams said he was unhappy the fault was not discovered sooner, as local people would have to suffer additional disruption as it was being put right.

"I couldn't believe it when I first heard," said Mr Williams.

"Where were the surveyors who were watching the work being carried out?"

Local businessman Jonathan Williams-Elis, from Glasfryn Parc Activity and Adventure Centre, said his business was around £100,000 down during the 18 month construction period.

"Having a speed limit and traffic lights for nearly six miles was extremely restrictive," he added.

Traffic lights

Mr Williams-Elis said he accepted the problem was not caused intentionally but he was still concerned about the effect of more road works.

"I hope the lights are not there for too long, that it's quick and painless, and that they don't leave the lights there over the weekend," he added.

Nick Bourne, the assembly member for Mid and West Wales, has been contacted by constituents who are also concerned about the road surface, especially when it rains, although it is unclear whether this is part of the same problem.

In August Mr Bourne asked Ieuan Wyn Jones, the minister for the economy and transport, about the road being dug up, and problems with the suitability of the carriageway foundations.

At the time Mr Jones said the foundation materials were of a "high enough standard".

Remedial work

"Approximately 200m of the northbound lane was dug up last year due to insufficient depths of the sub-base," he said in his answer.

"The defect was rectified immediately. There is no evidence at present of the new carriageway cracking."

Gwynedd council confirmed "some of the surface course" of the A499 improvement had been found to be defective, due to a defective material from the quarried source of the aggregate used.

"We are currently discussing the remedial works with the contractor with a view of implementing any works as soon as practicable," a spokesperson said.

"The exact length is yet to be agreed, and the surfacing contractor will be liable for all costs."

The contractor, Tarmac, also confirmed it would be carrying our "remedial work" at the site.

In a statement the company said the material used had been traced back to an "unexpected geological anomaly".

"We took immediate action to move quarry working way from this area, and put new systems in place to prevent a recurrence," the statement added.