Delays in repairing a carriageway on the A40 from Monmouth towards Ross-on-Wye, and beyond, have been attributed to dormice, following a rockfall in Herefordshire in February 2024. The northbound carriageway at Ganarew, known as Leys Bend, has faced closure, leading to significant traffic disruptions.
A contraflow system has been in place, redirecting northbound drivers to a lane on the southbound carriageway while work to restore the two northbound lanes continues. The project, managed by the UK Government’s National Highways agency, has experienced delays due to rockfall assessments and ecological precautions.
Carl Touhig, from Monmouthshire County Council, highlighted the impact of such delays on the road network’s management. He mentioned how concerns about dormice presence in the slippage area halted work, adding at least six months to the timeline. Touhig also emphasized the challenges posed by meeting ecological requirements for various wildlife species, including badgers, otters, bats, and dormice, which significantly extend project timelines.
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Despite the Welsh Government’s allocation of £120 million for road repairs across Wales, Touhig acknowledged that some schemes may be delayed. The council aims to prioritize using the available funding, likely around £3.5 million for Monmouthshire, while projects that face delays will be financed from the council’s capital budget.
Touhig also expressed concerns about the construction industry’s escalating costs, creating a challenging market for contractors. He indicated that rising costs, up by 25 to 30 percent over the past four years, could deter contractors from engaging in Monmouthshire’s projects. The allocation also needs to cover design, tendering, traffic management, publicizing, and ecology schemes.