Newtown bypass: Building work starts on £53m road

Work has begun to build a long-awaited £53m bypass aimed at easing congestion around a Powys town.

The Newtown bypass will stretch four-mile (6.5 km) from Llanidloes Road, to the west of the town, to Pool Road in the east.

A contract had been awarded to Alun Griffiths Ltd and about 90 jobs and apprenticeships will be created.

Part of the road has been re-routed to protect a 500-year-old oak tree.

Almost 5,000 people signed a petition in a bid to protect the Brimmon Oak, Newtown, in the path of the bypass.

The Brimmon Oak