Llanerch Bridge Repairs To Take Years

A Grade II listed bridge which collapsed after a major storm beat down on the area may take up to 18 months for repair plans to be drawn up.

A Grade II listed bridge which collapsed after a major storm beat down on the area may take up to 18 months for repair plans to be drawn up.

Based in Denbighshire, between Trefnant and Tremeirchion, Llanerch Bridge was washed away completely by the floods, deluge and strong winds that hit North Wales, and caused the River Clwyd to burst its banks.

This has caused people who live in the area and need to use the A55 to travel much further to reach St Asaph or Trefnant from Tremeirchion, in some cases making the journey across the River Clwyd significantly longer.

Some people have claimed the journey is now seven miles longer as a result of the flood.

Complicating bridge repairs, however, is that the bridge is a Grade II listed building. This means that the planning process for creating a new bridge will require several other parties to be involved, from the Welsh and UK government to conservation societies.

There will also be a debate about whether the bridge can be replaced like-for-like or would need to be widened and improved to ensure it is prepared for river flows and potentially hazardous weather.

The challenges involved have suggested that plans for the bridge will take 18 months or more to finalise, with the repair and rebuild being based on how much money is provided by central governments to fund the expensive repairs.

Temporary measures have also been looked into whilst the repair work takes place to ensure the commonly used route can be travelled on whilst substantial repairs takes place.