Drivers in Wales are facing a 70-mile diversion as a stretch of the A470 has closed for up to three months starting from yesterday, 20 January. The closure, affecting a three-mile section between Talerddig and Dolfach, will run until April 11.

In October 2023 a retaining wall supporting the A470 between Talerddig and Dolfach partially collapsed and an emergency closure was put in place. During this period works were undertaken to stabilise the carriageway to allow the A470 to reopen with traffic lights in place to close the westbound lane. This arrangement has remained in place in order to remove any traffic loading from the weak edge, says Wales Online.

Work on the permanent fix did start last October but washalted due to a fatal rail collision on the Cambrian railway line. The upcoming full closure will last until April 11 and then a two-way traffic light system will be reintroduced while construction is finalised. All traffic management is expected to be removed from the site by April 30.

Traffic Wales, which monitors and maintains the main routes in Wales, said in a statement: “The works will involve the complete excavation of the carriageway in order to rebuild the wall and there is therefore no option other than to close the road between the dates.”