WITH the closure of the main road into Hexham just weeks away, there are still no firm plans in place to ease the chaos and road safety risks it will create.

The road over the railway line is due to close for around six weeks from June 6, while Network Rail engineers carry out essential repairs.

But there are concerns the closure will cause severe disruption, with vehicles possibly backing up on the A69.

And extra traffic will be diverted along the West Road junction, which is already an accident blackspot.

Hexham independent councillor Derek Kennedy is calling for a detailed outline of contingency measures in place during the closure.

“This is going to be a nightmare for businesses, workers and the emergency services. Yet the attitudes from the organisations involved in the work appears to be so blasé,“ he said.

“The key thing with something as disruptive as this is communication and there has been none with the public.

“I’m really concerned that Hexham residents and visitiors will use the West Road to gain access to the A69. This is a dangerous junction at the best of times, but with more vehicles using this road it will become increasingly dangerous.”

The West Road junction of the A69 and the B6531 is a notorious accident black spot, with traffic speeding up as the road moves from single to dual carriageway, and a busy central island used by vehicles accessing Hexham on one side of the trunk road and Warden and Newbrough on the other.

“There needs to be speed controls put in place like temporary speed restrictions.

“And I would also suggest that one lane is coned off, otherwise we could likely end up with a lot of stationary traffic sitting in one lane,” added Coun. Kennedy.

“A free park and ride scheme to encourage people to still use the Rotary Way junction and make sure the spaces at Tyne Green are still put to good use would also be helpful.

“I’ve been asking the council for several months to organise public displays and meetings so we are all clear on what we can expect. This will have a huge effect on Hexham.”

Signs clearly communicating diversion routes and indicating that all businesses remain open during the disruption have also been requested by Coun. Kennedy.

Network Rail spokesman confirmed that traffic management systems had still to be confirmed. But it hoped negotiations with the county council highways team, A69 Roadlink and emergency services could be concluded this week.

“The work is essential in maintaining the safety of the bridge and has been timed to coincide with work carried out by the utility services over the road itself, and arrangements are in place to house emergency service vehicles on both sides of the railway,” said a spokesman.

“We plan to hold a public information event in Hexham in May to allow members of the public to meet with our project team and ask questions about the work.”

The bridge will remain open to pedestrians during the closure, which will involve removing tarmac, applying a waterproof covering to the structure’s concrete deck and installing new drainage.

Steel work repairs and repainting will also be carried out on the bridge, which carries the A6079 over the Tyne Valley railway line.

In order to minimise the length of closure, work will be taking place around the clock until mid-July.

A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: “We acknowledge that safety concerns have been raised about the increased traffic movements into and out of Hexham via the junction with the B6531 and the A69 to the west of the town, and the proposed traffic management arrangements from Network Rail will need to address these concerns.

“Agencies like Network Rail have a legal right to do work like this, and our role is to work with them and Highways England to agree arrangements that will cause least disruption.”

As for the emergency vehicles based on the town’s Tyne Mills and Bridge End industrial estates, it is understood negotiations with Network Rail are ongoing to have an ambulance and fire engine parked in a temporary depot on its land at Hexham railway station, to ensure direct access to the road on the south side of the bridge can be maintained.