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Traffic relief measures will be introduced at the UK’s second largest roll-on-roll-off port for fear of post-Brexit traffic jams.
The Government of Wales announced that a temporary backflow would begin today on the A55 road approaching Holyhead in North Wales.
The port is the second largest roll-on-roll-off port in the UK after Dover, carrying 1,200 trucks and trailers a day across the Irish Sea.
Once the Brexit transition period ends on January 1, traders will need to complete Smart Freight’s online customs declaration forms, which will allow them to ensure their goods are ready for border checks before leaving for the ports.
All HGVs leaving the port will be redirected back to the counterflow to divert onto J4 and join the westbound carriageway reserved for redirected trucks.
They will be redirected to another site or, if there is no other site available, they will be stacked on the A55 while they organize the correct documentation.
Work is already underway for a temporary ground truck parking at Parc Cybi and the site is expected to be ready in mid-January.
The reasonable worst-case scenario published by the UK government highlights that between 40% and 70% of trucks arriving in ports after January 1 could be rejected as they do not have the proper documentation. .
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The Welsh Government said the peak was expected in mid-January, but plans should be in place before the end of December.
Ken Skates, Minister for Transport and North Wales, said: “We need to implement these contingency plans to do what we can to minimize any potential disruption to the port, the Holyhead community and a wider area.”
“We have never faced this kind of situation before and we have a duty to prepare for the worst possible scenario.
“We expect the busiest time for redirected HGVs to be around mid-January, and it is possible, but not certain, that the first days of January will be relatively quiet.
“However, we must be prepared for all eventualities.
“We will keep these plans under constant review and as soon as it becomes clear that we no longer need the counterflow, we will dismantle it.
“We have been working with partners across North Wales, including the Anglesey Council, on these plans. Any revisions and changes to the plans will be made in full consultation with them.
“From the outset, it was clear to us that the UK government’s approach to our future trade relationship with the EU would risk a major disruption in Wales, particularly at the border.”
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