A MAJOR project to improve the safety of Capel Hendre Square for pedestrians and motorists is nearing completion.

Led by Carmarthenshire Council with funding from the Welsh Government, the project is expected to be finished by the end of August.

The improvement project, which started in March, includes the installation of three new pedestrian crossings on Saron Road, Waterloo Road and Hendre Road.

A four-way intelligent traffic signal system is also being introduced to help improve traffic flows through the square, along with a number of additional speed humps on Hendre Road and Waterloo Road to reduce the speed of traffic.

Resurfacing works will be carried out this weekend - Saturday August 11 and Sunday August 12 - as the project draws to a close, with well-signed diversions being put in place for motorists.

Cllr Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire Council’s Executive Board Member for Environment, said: “Once complete, this project will benefit many thousands of motorists and pedestrians every year, thanks to a combination of measures that will improve people’s safety and help with traffic flows through the square.

“The vast majority of the improvements have now been completed, with the resurfacing works planned for the weekend among the final phases of the project.

“The nature of resurfacing work does mean some temporary road closures and well-signed diversions will be in place in and around the square on Saturday and Sunday, but we’ll do all we can to minimise disruption by finishing these works as soon as possible.

“In the meantime, I’d like to thank the community in the area for their continued patience and understanding while these vital improvements are finalised.”

Temporary road closures on Saturday August 11 and Sunday August 12

The B4297 will be temporarily closed from about 165 metres south-east of its junction with the C2130 leading to Saron for about 250 metres in a north-westerly direction.

The C2130 leading to Saron will be temporarily closed from its junction with the B4297 for about 50 metres in a north-easterly direction.

The C2130 leading to Cwmgwili will be temporarily closed from its junction with the B4297 for about 125 metres in a south-westerly direction.

Diversions in place on Saturday August 11 and Sunday August 12

The alternative route for north-west bound traffic will be to drive in a north-easterly direction along the C2130 to its junction with the C2136 at Saron.

At the junction, turn left and continue in a north-easterly direction to its junction with the B4556 at Blaenau. At the junction, turn left and continue in a westerly direction along the B4556 to its junction with the B4297 at Penygroes.

At the junction, turn left and continue in a southerly direction along the B4297 to return to a point north-west of the closure.

The alternative route for north-east bound traffic will be to drive in a southerly direction along the B4297 to its junction with the TR A483 at Coopers.

At the junction, turn left and continue in a north-easterly direction along the TR A483 to its junction with the U4366 at Penybanc. At the junction, turn left and continue in a northerly direction along the U4366 to its junction with the C2130 at Saron. At the junction, turn left and continue in a westerly direction along the C2130 to return to a point north-east of the closure. Vice versa for south-east bound traffic.

The alternative route for south-west bound traffic will be to drive in a northerly direction along the B4297 to its junction with the B4556 at Penygroes. At the junction, turn left and continue in a westerly direction along the B4556 to its junction with the A476 at Gorslas.

At the junction, turn left and continue in a south-westerly direction along the A476 to its junction with TR A48 Cross Hands roundabout. At Cross Hands roundabout, take the second exit and continue in a southerly direction along the TR A48 to its junction with the C2130 at Cwmgwili. At the junction, turn left and continue in a north-easterly direction along the C2130 to return to a point south-west of the closure.

The alternative route for eastbound traffic will be to drive in a westerly direction along Thornhill Road C2130 to its junction with the TRA48.

At the junction, turn left and continue in a southerly direction along the TRA48 to Pont Abraham roundabout. At the Pont Abraham roundabout take the first exit and continue in a north-easterly direction along the TR A483 to junction with B4297 at Coopers.

At the junction, turn left and continue in a northerly direction along the B4297 to return to a point south of the closure.