Plans by the Highways Agency and Pembrokeshire County Council to close the Kilgetty/Stepaside junction during the busy summer season has caused uproar amongst tourist operators in the area and local councillors.
The closure is due to commence on Monday, June 21, for a period of eight weeks in order for resurfacing of the junction to take place.
Alternative routes for traffic have been drawn up, but County Councillor Mary Megarry is furious about the timing of the road closure and concerned about the effect it will cause to locals and trade.
"When the necessary work on the A477 was announced, I did raise the matter that it is always when the road is busiest, but to actually take the action on the junction as part of that work at the peak of the tourist season is ludicrous," remarked Clr. Megarry.
The alternative route for the traffic will be to send it into Stepaside via the turn at Pen Y Bont, meaning touring caravans will have to sweep around the bend at Sheepwalls.
"As well as affecting local residents, the main problem is obviously that the period of closure coincides with the main part of the tourist season and there are a number of site operators and hotels in Stepaside and Pleasant Valley who will be affected," continued Clr. Megarry.
"I'm pleased that improvements are being made to the roads, but the timing of it all is awful," she concluded.
Caravan site owners in the area are worried that the closure will cause massive hold-ups and heavily affect their trade.
"Caravan owners are going to have great difficulty in accessing the sites; the route is the main gateway for the tourists in the area and they couldn't have chosen a worse time to close the junction," said Mr. George Jones, proprietor of Merrixton Caravan Park, with Simon Wood, of Mill House Caravan Park, just as baffled with the decision.
"I'm disappointed and don't understand the thinking behind the timing of it all," said Mr. Wood. "It's not rocket science to know that road works that size during the summer are going to cause significant problems."
Secretary of Stepaside and Pleasant Valley Residents Association, Mr. Mike Griffiths, called the timing of the closure "complete madness."
"To close the junction during peak time when the traffic rises such a percentage is unbelievable and I would strongly recommend they delay the work until after the summer," he said.
"The other concern is that the back road that the traffic is due to be re-routed on can be a dangerous road, and with increased traffic flowing through it, there's more likelihood of an accident happening, which would result in all routes being blocked," added Mr. Griffiths.