Despite promises of the new road system being in place before the summer holidays, and later a revised date of July 29, residents are now being told that an unforeseen glitch is forcing a six-week delay.
It means that the road chaos we have been enduring could continue through to the new school year in September.
“The area opposite the Inglenook is an issue,” said Town Clerk Robert Robinson after a meeting with the Welsh Government and Powys County Council.
“Some serious services have been found in a different location than expected and these will have to be moved before completion of the widened pavement can be completed.”
It’s the worst news possible and although most of the other work will be completed by Monday, the full opening of the system will only happen once the new services work is complete.
Other updates today include:
· Upper part of Brook Street will be closed on Friday night from 8pm to 6pm for white lining and road repairs.
· Jehu Road is now open and apart from some small areas of white lining is complete.
· Church Bank is complete.
· Junction with Salop Road/Mill Lane will have the traffic island removed over one night next week and it will be replaced by white lining - this is so lorries can navigate the road in this location better.
· The works by the NFU continue and should be completed by Tuesday.
· The works in Church Street will be completed by Tuesday.
· The narrowing works at the entrance to Broad Street are to be abandoned and white lining put in its place. Barriers removed for tomorrow (Friday).
· White lining up Broad Street will take place later in the evening early next week. No road closure expected.
· Zebra Crossing by Costa Coffee is now installed but will not be completed or brought into use until the one-way system is completed and open for two-way traffic in Brook Street/Union Street.
· Narrowing of Broad Street by the Town Hall to be completed by Monday.
· The works to the kerb lines at the junction of High Street/Jehu Road to be completed by Tuesday.
Final Programme details:
· The whole system should be completed by Monday night except where the services have to be moved in Union Street. The road cannot go to two-way traffic until this work is complete. It may take up to six weeks to enable this part to be finished. In the meantime, the road system will run as it was until the two-way traffic order is brought into place.
· The traffic lights are being assessed and work to gain correct phasing is taking place.
· For the coming weekend the traffic lights will be on manual control (Friday 12 noon to 8pm and again on Saturday 10am to 3pm) to aid holiday traffic.