Oil spill disruption kept to an ‘absolute minimum’

TRAFFIC disruption has been kept to an “absolute minimum” during the weekend’s closure of the A48 in Carmarthen, police have said.

The road has been closed in both directions to allow repair works to be carried out, after thousands of litres of oil spilled when a pipe leaked under the road. The closure is due to be in place until around 6am tomorrow.

A team consisting of DyfedPowys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and SWTRA is working jointly to ensure that traffic continues to be managed effectively.

A statement from Dyfed-Powys Police said the traffic management plan had so far, on Friday night and yesterday, ensured that traffic disruption and congestion in the area had been kept to an absolute minimum, and the roads had kept flowing well.

Extra roads policing officers in cars and on motorcycles will continue to patrol the routes and maintain a visible presence, and be in a position to respond quickly if the need arises.

Chief Inspector Peter Roderick of the Specialist Operations Department for Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “We’re happy to confirm that there have been very little problems on the diversion routes so far, and I’d like to thank the public and all road users for heeding our advice.

“Those who have travelled on the routes have been patient and co-operative, and we are very grateful to you all. This is inconvenient for everyone, but by working with us and acting on our advice we’re all playing our part in ensuring everything possible is being done to avoid congestion during this time. It is good that the traffic management plan put in place has allowed the free flow of vehicles on the diverted route.”

He added: “We are also encouraged by the confirmation we’ve received that the team working on the site has made extremely good progress and they remain on target to complete the work scheduled by early Monday morning. We will issue updates as and when appropriate.”