Several different options are being considered to protect the Usk Bridge in Monmouthshire from damage following a councillor’s campaign to force a review.
Cllr Tony Kear has been assessing the options available to altering the Grade II* structure built in the mid-18thj Century which has been damaged again, and believes a pedestrian bridge is a potentially expensive option.
The current road traffic orders (RTO) allow vehicles of less than 7.5 tonnes use of the A472 for access and deliveries. Historic attempts to change the RTOs ran into legal and practical difficulties including access for local deliveries.
The discussions so far have been on sight lines for traffic coming from Little Mill and turning left towards Bridge Street.
But Cllr Kear maintains there is clear evidence that traffic entering the “keep clear area” is forcing long HGVs turning right from the bridge towards Little Mill and are forced to take the wide route and the tail swing is causing the damage.
He understands that vegetation growth and highways signs on the bridge are hampering vision and as an interim measure, it has been agreed that signage will be reviewed and re-sited and vegetation cleared.
Ownership of the land behind the wall (next to the steps) is being investigated to see if this area is part of a specifically deigned flood defence and if responsibility lies with Natural Resources Wales. (NRW)
Monmouthshire County Council have also agreed to undertake further traffic counts to ascertain numbers of HGV movements, which may take six to eight weeks.
Cllr Kear added:
“I said I would pursue this long standing issue. There is no easy cost effective solution – had there been, then no doubt it would have been put in place.”
(Picture: Mapillary)
