Gas pipe repair road 'chaos' fear

Caernarfon Road is one of the main routes into the university city

Traffic "chaos" has been predicted in Bangor as a main road into the Gwynedd city is blocked for five weeks.

The 500m (1,640ft) stretch of Caernarfon Road will be closed from Sunday as part of a £110,000 project to replace old metal gas pipes.

Road users will either have to divert past Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Penrhosgarnedd, or face a 5m (8.5km) route around the city.

Wales and West Utilities (WWU) said disruption would be kept to a minimum.

"Penrhosgarnedd is crowded even now, because of the hospital traffic," said Bangor city and county councillor Eddie Dogan.

"There is no alternative but to close the road however, as you can't take a chance on people's lives."

Road system

Mr Dogan, a councillor for 35 years, said he was concerned about the the road system in the city in general as more than one road had been closed, or turned into a way-one system, over the years, all leading to an increasingly "chaotic" system.

"I have begged the county council to reopen roads here," he added.

Llywelyn Roberts from Chubbs Taxis Ltd, which is based just off Caernarfon Road, said the road closure was a concern.

"It will affect us as it will take us longer to get to people," he said.

"We don't welcome it, but it's fair enough if they have to carry out the work.

"What I don't understand is the level of road works in Bangor, they are like a plague popping up all over the place, there should be more co-ordination," he added.

'Leakage issues'

Stephen Magee, WWU's first line manager for Anglesey and Gwynedd, said the company appreciated the "considerable inconvenience to local people".

Disruption would be kept to a minimum and WWU would be working extended hours, seven days a week, to ensure early completion of the work, he said.

"The steel main being replace has had leakage issues for several years and has led to numerous occasions where traffic lights have had to be installed on Caernarfon Road to enable essential maintenance to be completed," Mr Magee added.

"The plastic replacement main we are using has a lifespan of over 80 years," he said.

The road will be closed from the junction of Ainon Road to the junction of Penchwinton from Sunday, 27 July to Friday, 29 August.