Aug 5 2010 by Eleanor Barlow, Flintshire Chronicle
Drivers urged to use common sense while Flint roadworks are carried out
MOTORISTS are being urged to use their common sense to avoid a potential accident while roadworks cause traffic congestion in Flint.
Work to install cables for the Eirgrid East West Interconnector, which will link electricity from Ireland to Wales, started on Aber Road on Monday.
The installation, which will take 10 weeks, means Aber Road has become one way– increasing traffic through Church Street.
Cllr Alex Aldridge said: “It’s clearly had a significant impact on traffic through the town centre. It means that HGVs are coming up through Church Street to get to the industrial parks on Aber Road.
“I would like to appeal to people not to park on the cycle lane of Church Street, particularly while these roadworks are going on. There is parking in abundance in the retail park and parking on street could cause tailbacks on the A548 junction.”
He said he feared there could be an accident if drivers didn’t take extra care.
“It is the school holidays which means there are a lot of children about and if there was an accident in Church Street it could be calamitous for the town because the emergency services would struggle to get access.”
He added: “This is an important scheme which can provide alternative power supply which is needed but drivers need to use their common sense and be patient.”
Alan McHugh, EirGrid’s East West Interconnector project manager, said: “While most of our underground cable will follow the route of the A548, we won’t be taking it through Flint town centre to ensure businesses there aren’t impacted by the work.
“An alternative route starting in Aber Road has been identified and I would like to assure people we will do all we can to ensure any disruption is kept to an absolute minimum.
“The East West Interconnector is an exciting development which will bring many benefits to electricity users in Wales and Ireland and I would like to thank people for their patience while we’re working in the area.”