Dyfi bridge campaigners' transport plan disappointment

The bridge on the A487 is hit by localised flooding and has been damaged when struck by lorries

Campaigners calling for a replacement bridge across the river Dyfi at Machynlleth say they are disappointed it is not in Wales' new transport plan.

Residents say they face a 20-mile detour whenever the bridge is closed due to flooding or damaged by vehicles.

In a letter to local government minister Carl Sargeant, Dyfi Bridge Steering Committee chair Gareth Jones called it an "astonishing omission".

The Welsh government said options for crossing the Dyfi were being looked at.

A 3,200-signature petition calling for a replacement to the 200-year-old Grade II-listed stone bridge on the A487 was handed to AMs in February last year.

'21st Century traffic'

No reference was made to the bridge in the New Transport Plan (NTP) for 2012 to 2015 announced by Mr Sargeant last month.

Mr Jones, a Machynlleth town councillor, said people faced a 20-mile detour for whatever reason the bridge is closed.

He said: "The Dyfi Bridge has been a problem for many years because of the flooding and damage done by lorries.

"We have been campaigning to get something done. We want another bridge which is capable of taking 21st Century traffic. It would be higher up the river, above the flood plain.

"We are very disappointed that Carl Sargeant hasn't included this."

A Welsh government spokesperson said it was appraising options for an improved crossing of the Afon Dyfi and to reduce the incidence of road closure due to flooding.

Diversion signs

A spokesman said: "Dyfi Bridge was not included in the prioritised National Transport Plan that was recently announced as this exercise was about prioritising delivery of the existing plan - nothing new was added and no existing projects or schemes were taken out.

"The minister also announced that he would look at how we can maximise the reliability and improve journey times and safety of the trunk road network as part of the prioritisation. The Dyfi Bridge study is an example of this.

"In the short-term we will be providing additional diversion signing on the approach to Dyfi Bridge when the road is closed."