MOTORISTS travelling around Carmarthenshire face major delays over the next six weeks as repairs begin on a pipeline under the A48.

The carriageway facing eastbound between Carmarthen and Nantycaws closed today and won’t be reopened until October 28.

An issue has been found in the pipe, which runs under the A48 from Pembroke Refinery.

The company that runs the line say the work needs to be carried out before the end of the year to ensure continued road safety.

Local councillor Elwyn Williams said residents faced “gridlock” and “chaos” over the coming weeks.

He said: “It’s going to be gridlock, it’s going to be pandemonium.

“I think it will be bumper to bumper and it is going to be like that for as long as the dual carriageway is closed.”

The old Nantycaws bypass will be used for diversions and Mainline Pipelines Ltd said they would aim to reopen the road as soon as possible.

Fisher German Surveyor Sam Parton said the company had accurate data and should be able to pinpoint the exact area where the repair is needed.

He said: “We’ve liaised with Carmarthenshire County Council, the South Wales Trunk Road Agency and the Welsh Government on this one as it’s the A48, quite a significant trunk road and they are all in agreement with us to go ahead and do the work.”