THE busiest road linking the Wye Valley is to close in September for up to five weeks.

The A466 near Tintern has had temporary traffic lights since February after a landslide damaged one lane and threatened to take parts of the tarmac over the hillside.

Now, it has been confirmed that the work to reconstruct the road will take place in September, with road closures necessary to ensure the safety of motorists and the workforce.

Steve Baldwin, Project Engineer at Monmouthshire County Council Highways and Waste Team confirmed that a full road closure for three to five weeks is expected to commence in September.

He said: “The road closure is necessary to enable work on the road to go ahead safely. The work will involve excavating the carriageway over the affected area and reconstructing it using a reinforcing membrane which will provide longevity until a long term solution can be developed.

“We recognise the disruption that this may cause however it is necessary to complete work safely. The current temporary traffic lights are in place to keep traffic as far as possible away from the edge and keep road users safe.  

“We did not want to implement road closures during the summer period as we understand that many visitors and locals use the road to access the beautiful Wye Valley and have taken this into consideration. Temporary traffic lights will be in place until works commence.”