Travel misery is set to continue for Welshpool commuters on the A483 after it was confirmed that there is still no date for emergency work to start at Abermule.
With tourists set to flock to and through the area for their Easter holidays traffic lights will still be in place near the village where a lorry ploughed into the Montgomery Canal two months ago, though the Welsh Government has confirmed the work will be finished before the Summer holidays.
With thousands of people heading into Mid Wales and the coast for their Easter Bank Holiday next week, motorists can expect lengthy delays along the main road due to the combination of high traffic levels and the temporary traffic lights on the main road.
This will only be compounded by the expected congestion into Newtown. Last Easter queues formed close to the Abermule junction heading towards Newtown as they attempted to negotiate the town centre.
The trunk road is the responsibility of the Welsh Government and not Powys County Council and is managed by the Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency of which the county council is part of.
Transport Minister, Edwina Hart AM, has promised to have the traffic lights operated manually at peak times from this weekend to ensure congestion is minimised.
She said the removal of pollution from the canal following the accident was due to be completed this week.
Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George, raised an urgent question at the Assembly in an attempt to get answers as to what is happening at the spot where the lorry careered through a barrier and into the canal.
No work has been seen at the site other than pollution and wildlife experts.
“The works on the A483 need to progress urgently,” said Mr George.
“I am disappointed by the ongoing delays in spite of the complications associated with the repairs such as the design of the road layout and the need to remove pollution from the Montgomery Canal.
“However, I have not been satisfied with the fact that the works have not progressed more quickly. I understand that the pollution will be removed from the canal by the end of this week but it is disappointing that further repair work will not be completed until nearer the Summer.
He added: “Nevertheless, I am pleased that the manual control of the temporary traffic lights will begin this weekend at peak times to minimise delays."
Mrs Hart said in a letter: "The process of removing pollution from the canal will be finished this week. We can then complete the design of the scheme.
"Due to the road layout, we will need to depart from design standards and due process must be followed. We will also need to liaise with the Canals Trust as part of this work."
She added: "We aim to complete the works before the summer, when traffic will be at its busiest. Manual control of the temporary traffic lights to minimise delays at peak times will start this weekend."
Caption: The lorry which ploughed into the Montgomery Canal two months ago. Photo: ©Owain Betts