Flintshire County Council has publicised details of the road closures that will take place during the two hours the Olympic Torch Relay travels through the County on 29 May.
The Torch will be carried first through Connah’s Quay, starting at about 4.10pm on the B5126 Mold Road near its junction with Ffordd Llanarth, downhill to the junction with the B5129 then right on to High Street. It will then continue along the B5129 through Shotton to Queensferry.
To ensure the safety of the convoy and spectators it will be necessary to close the B5129 between Queensferry roundabout and its junction with the B5126 Mold Road. This closure will start at approximately 3:45pm and in the first instance will only apply in the direction from Queensferry to Connah’s Quay. All major side roads along the length of the B5129 closure will also be closed at this time.
The two offslips from the A494 to Queensferry Roundabout, together with the offslip off Aston Hill at the Plough junction will be closed to coincide with the closure of the B5129 at the roundabout. Traffic joining the roundabout from the Gladstone Way and Sandycroft directions will only be allowed to exit the roundabout onto the A494 dual, either north or south.
Through traffic that would have travelled from Queensferry towards Connah’s Quay will be diverted onto the A548 passing over the Flintshire Bridge.
Approximately five minutes before the arrival of the relay convoy, traffic will be held up in the direction in which the relay will travel, to enable it to change from convoy mode to torch bearer mode. This will apply at the start of the relay at other locations where the road is to be closed. The relay will travel in the left hand lane of the route from Connah’s Quay through Shotton, ending at Deeside Leisure Centre at 4:45pm. The use of the left hand lane for the convoy will also apply along the other closed sections of road.
On the arrival of the convoy at the Leisure Centre the B5129 between Queensferry and Connah’s Quay will be re-opened and traffic will be allowed to flow in both directions but the three slip road closures will not be removed until the relay has moved on to the next section of the route, Gladstone Way.
The torch will then be carried along is the A550 Gladstone Way, from the junction with Cottage Lane (Strike’s Nursery) up to the Monument junction on the B5125, The Highway, Hawarden. It will then turn left and continue through Hawarden along Glynne Way.
This section of the relay will start at approximately 5.10pm. For the relay to start safely at this point, Gladstone Way will be closed at the exit from Queensferry Roundabout, until such time that there is sufficient queuing space behind the relay. The B5125 into Hawarden from the Broughton direction will also be closed at approximately 5pm, together with any side roads. No official diversions will be indicated on site because of the short period taken for the relay to pass through Hawarden. Through traffic would be able to travel through Sandycroft or use the A55 west bound. Again, traffic will eventually be allowed to follow the convoy relay when safe to do so.
The final leg of the relay in Flintshire will see the Torch carried along the A5104 Saltney High Street, starting at approximately at 5.30pm at the B5129 Saltney Ferry junction and then on into Chester. Saltney High Street will be closed in both directions for the period of the relay with traffic heading towards Chester being diverted along Sandy Lane and through the Lache whilst in the other direction traffic will be diverted along Boundary Lane. The relay will leave Saltney at 5.45 pm and continue on into Chester.
Publicised times are approximate and may be affected by unexpected delays. The Council will publicise any major changes on the day on its web site and via local radio stations.
Flintshire County Council’s Chief Executive Colin Everett said:
“This is a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local people to line the route and show their support for London 2012 as the Olympic Flame is carried through Flintshire. Come and support our torchbearers. We hope that all those involved, whether as part of the relay itself or as a spectator, will have an enjoyable experience and that local communities will be patient with the disruption to traffic for this special event.”
