FLINTSHIRE Council has explained the reasons for major delays on the A494 in Deeside on Wednesday.

The council is undertaking roadworks to install traffic signalisation on the A548 Deeside Industrial Park roundabout to help reduce peak time congestion.

But 'engineering difficulties and plant failure' on Tuesday resulted in lane closures, that would normally be removed by 4pm each day, remaining in place overnight for safety reasons.

This caused queues that stretched up the A494 and A550 Welsh Road on Wednesday morning.

It is intended the second lane will reopen on Wednesday at 4pm and will remain open until after 9.30am on Thursday.

Barry Wilkinson, Flintshire Council’s highway network manager, said: "Lane restrictions have been in place around the roundabout and adjoining roads for the safety of the workforce engaged in this operation outside of peak times, and this has been reduced to a single lane closure each day, allowing day time traffic to travel with reduced congestion through peak times.

“Unfortunately, the council was made aware of engineering difficulties and plant failure yesterday, and as a result the lane closures that would normally be removed by 4pm each day had to remain in place overnight for safety reasons.

"This has meant that the second lane could not be opened today. It is intended that the second lane will be opened by 4pm today and will remain open until after 9:30am Thursday 25th April, to limit impact on peak traffic.

“This phase of the work has been on-going since the beginning of April, and it is anticipated that it will be completed by Friday, April 26, when all traffic management will be removed.

The disruption this morning was unfortunately unavoidable as an emergency response to unforeseen circumstances. We would like to thank the travelling public for their understanding and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”