A PROPOSAL that starts the legal process to allow lorries weighing more than 18 tonnes to use a road bridge near Llanbrynmair, is set to be agreed by a senior councillor.
On Tuesday, June 3, Cllr Jackie Charlton the cabinet member for highways transport and recycling is expected to take a delegated decision to implement a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to remove the weight restriction from Tafolwern Fawr Bridge.
This follows work to re-deck the bridge taking place last year.
A second delegated decision is also sought from Liberal Democrat Cllr Charlton which is to restrict the weight limit of vehicles to go over the nearby Bont Bach (Small) Bridge.
The report said: “Tafolwern Fawr Bridge which carries the C2175 (county road) over the Afon Laen watercourse at Tafolwern is around 750 metres west of Llanbrynmair.
“Tafolwern Fawr Bridge has been weight restricted to 18 tonnes since 2001 due to inadequacy of the pier following a structural assessment.
“During the winter of 2023- 2024 the pier partially collapsed.
“In September and October 2024, works were carried out to replace the bridge deck, removing the need for a central pier and reinstating the structure to support standard highway loading.”
The report explains that Bont Fach Bridge which carries the U2303 unclassified county road over the Afon Twymyn watercourse is only 70 metres to the southwest of Tafolwern Fawr Bridge.
Back in 2013 a structural assessment of Bont Fach Bridge was done, and the bridge was deemed capable of carrying vehicles up to a maximum of 18 tonnes.
This restriction was not implemented as the weight prohibition to Tafolwern Fawr Bridge stopped vehicles getting to the smaller bridge – an alternative route was deemed to be too narrow to allow larger vehicles to get to the bridge.
The report said: “Revoking the weight limit on Tafolwern Fawr Bridge means that it is now essential to impose a permanent weight restriction to Bont Fach Bridge, as per the recommendations of the 2013 structural assessment.
“The option to do nothing is not considered viable since it allows a risk of overloading the structure with the potential to cause damage or collapse of bridge.
“A TRO is required to restrict the weight of traffic crossing the bridge to 18 tonnes, which will then allow regulatory traffic signs to be installed making the restriction legally enforceable if necessary.”
Local county councillor Cllr Gary Mitchell (Plaid Cymru) said: “I agree it’s imperative that without the restriction on the Tafolwern Fawr Bridge the weight limit be enacted on the Bont Fach Bridge.”
If Cllr Charlton agrees the proposal a further five days will need to elapse before it can come in to force, this is to allow time for councillors to call in the decision for scrutiny should they wish to do so.
