MORE needs to be done to protect rural roads and bridges from increased traffic and flooding, says a concerned Denbighshire councillor.
Llanerch Bridge collapsed after the structure was swept away into the River Clwyd in January 2021 during Storm Christoph, which caused flooding across the county.
The missing bridge means Trefnant and Tremeirchion residents are facing seven-mile diversions on back roads and country lanes.
But Cllr Chris Evans says these back roads are now under serious strain, due to the additional traffic, including HGVs and heavy farm vehicles.
Cllr Evans says he fears the bridge known locally as Pont Campbell, crossing the River Clwyd on Bach y Graig Road, is now also under threat from overuse, as traffic is diverted onto country lanes.
His comments follow more bad weather after the recent Storm Bert caused widespread flooding.
“We are going to have the same issue as Llanerch Bridge,” said Cllr Evans.
“That bridge will be taken away (by the current). It is a smaller bridge. Then we’ll have two roads that are impassable into the ward of Tremeirchion. The bridge is having too much traffic over it. It is old. It is taking the traffic that Llanerch Bridge used to take. The road on the Trefnant side of the bridge is breaking up and falling away. There have been accidents and vehicles coming off the road.
“The roads are deteriorating very quickly because we are having heavy vehicles going up there, but they’ve got no other way to go. The only way is through Bodfari or through that road (Bach y Graig).”
He added: “Denbighshire has just been out there and put out some plastic cones with tape on and thrown a bit of tarmac in the holes. I don’t think that is right. The council should be doing a better programme of works. They need to close the road and carry out a proper reconstruction of the road and be more proactive and work together to get Llanerch Bridge up and running.
“If that bridge goes, the only way through the village will be through Rhuallt, which is the best road, or back through Bodfari, or down towards the A55 passed the Salusbury Arms.”
A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council commented: “Every bridge in Denbighshire is subject to the appropriate scour assessments in accordance with national guidance. These assessments give DCC a strong basis in determining bridge usage during and following a severe flood incident.
“The highways department has been monitoring the road conditions in the area and are currently evaluating funding opportunities available should it be deemed that improvement or maintenance of these routes is necessary whilst the Llanerch Bridge project is ongoing.”
