Repairs on Conwy Tunnel could take weeks after vehicle fire broke out inside
There could be several weeks of disruption on the A55 after a fire broke out inside the Conwy Tunnel on Thursday (19 June) afternoon.
One of the carriageways was reopened the next day, while the westbound carriageway remained closed.
Further inspections and repair work will now need to take place and people are being warned that delays are still likely. Drivers are therefore encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys.
In a statement, the Transport Secretary said repair works are already being planned and more tunnel closures and traffic management measures may be necessary in the coming weeks to allow that to take place. Traffic Wales will be issuing regular updates on the progress of those works.
Ken Skates MS added that a recent planning exercise between Welsh Government and emergency services took place on the A55 at the Conwy Tunnel and looked at this scenario. This helped inform their response on Thursday afternoon and minimise the damage.
North Wales Fire & Rescue Service (NWFRS) was alerted to the fire just before 2pm on Thursday afternoon.
In light of the scale of disruption, the fire service declared a Major Incident around an hour later, which was stood down later in the afternoon as the fire was extinguished.
At the peak of the operation, 10 fire appliances, four specialist vehicles, a welfare unit and eight officers were deployed to the tunnel. There were no fatalities.
Mike Plant Head of Planning, Performance and Transformation for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The response to this incident was an outstanding demonstration of professionalism, resilience, and teamwork. Our crews, officers, and control staff operated under extremely demanding circumstances, and their quick, decisive actions made a real difference in preventing further escalation.
"I want to extend my sincere thanks to all NWFRS staff and our partners who supported the response and helped protect our communities."
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