COUNCILLORS in Machynlleth have hit out at the length of time it is taking to repair a historic bridge, which was damaged by a lorry in June.
The Dyfi Bridge on the main route into Machynlleth still has temporary traffic lights in place.
Lorry drivers have to take a 20-mile detour to get through the town following the incident.
Town councillors have now criticised the Welsh Assembly for taking so long to fully reopen the bridge.
John Parsons, Machynlleth town clerk, said he was told the work on the 200-year-old bridge was due to finish by the end of July.
He said: “I travel that road daily and apart from when they took stones out of the river when it happened I have not seen anyone working on the bridge again, I think it is disgusting.
“We are very disappointed with the situation and I suggest we call a meeting with Assembly officials over it.”
The bridge has traffic lights to allow one lane of light traffic to travel along the A487, but some councillors are claiming lorries are using the route regardless, causing a pot hole on the bridge to grow in size.
A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly said the work had been delayed because as the bridge was a Scheduled Ancient Monument and has Grade-II listed status, discussions were needed with Cadw, which protects Welsh heritage sites.
He said: “The repairs are classed as an emergency and it is planned to have the work completed as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the Mid and West Wales Assembly Member, Nick Bourne is pleased that serious consideration is being given to a “second Dyfi crossing” in the wake of an accident involving a long lorry which demolished part of the vitally important A487 Dyfi Bridge at Machynlleth.
During the last week of Assembly business before the summer recess, Nick had asked the Welsh Government to bring forward a statement to the Assembly Chamber about the future of the historic road bridge which spans the river Dyfi between Gwynedd and Powys.
As the Welsh Government declined to provide a statement, Nick wrote to the Plaid Minister with responsibility for transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones, to ask for the results of last February’s survey on the bridge.
In his written response to Nick, the Minister has indicated that work is being undertaken to look at the option of providing a new crossing over Afon Dyfi, as well as strengthening and widening the existing 200-year-old structure.
Commenting on the Minister’s response, Nick said: “While the Minister says he is working as ‘quickly as practicable’ to repair and re-open Dyfi Bridge; other than stating that the option of a new structure is being looked at, his letter doesn’t indicate where along the river, this might be.
"Doubtless, this will need to be looked at carefully because Afon Dyfi is a Special Area of Conservation.
“What is clear is that this spate of recent accidents now affords the Welsh Government a serious opportunity to, at long last, grasp the nettle and look at providing a much required second crossing over Afon Dyfi which will be able to cope with heavy duty use. Clearly, the bridge, as it currently stands, is not robust enough to cope with the heavy, modern day traffic which uses it."