WORK to renew worn out bridge expansion joints on the A55 Eastbound and Westbound at J19 will start at the end of January.

The essential work, at Glan Conwy Viaduct, will result in the closure of the Eastbound carriageway for one week.

A closure of the Westbound carriageway for one week will follow.

The works were due to begin on January 15. However, the joints for the work have been delayed reaching the Port of Felixstowe and face further delay during unloading due to on-going disruption at the port.

They are now expected to make their way towards the construction site in the next two weeks, with the work expected to begin on Friday, January 29.

Contractors will be working 24/7 to complete the works on each side as quickly as possible

A statement from Traffic Wales, The Welsh Government’s traffic information service for motorways and trunk roads in Wales, said: The traffic management for this project will benefit from the installation of the new traffic control system and re-modelling of Junction 19 completed in December 2020. The traffic control system will be re-configured to balance flows and minimise disruption when traffic is diverted via the slip roads and the J19 roundabout.

"Significant queueing and delay is expected at peak times especially on the A55 with moderate queueing expected at other times. Road users are asked to avoid travelling via Junction 19 of the A55 for all but essential purposes and to expect significant delays if they do travel."

There will be an initial over-night closure of the A55 East bound carriageway and Eastbound Off-slip at J19 to re-line the carriageway and slip road for the main diversion route.

Traffic will be diverted at J18 East bound along A546 Conwy Road towards Deganwy and then via A547 through Llandudno Junction returning to the A55 at the J19 roundabout.

The main diversion route for the first week of works will be via J19 East bound Off-slip, J19 roundabout and J19 Eastbound On-slip. Traffic will be diverted as two lanes through the main diversion route.

At the end of the first week there will be a repeat of the initial over-night closure to reinstate the Eastbound carriageway and East bound Off-slip.

In the second week the Westbound carriageway will be closed at J19 and traffic will be diverted as one lane via the J19 West bound Off-slip, the J19 roundabout and the J19 Westbound On-slip.

Throughout the period, one lane of the adjacent open carriageway will be closed over-night (8pm until 6am) to provide a safe working zone at the end of the bridge expansion joint in the central reserve.

A 40mph temporary speed restriction will be applied to the open carriageway to provide a safe working area for contractors working close to the central reserve barrier on the closed carriageway.