Driver gets trapped as concerns are raised over section of pavement at new £500,000 junction

Work on the Cross Common Road junction in Dinas Powys is due to be completed in March ahead of an official opening, with a temporary traffic layout in place until then.

But last weekend saw several drivers report concerns over the new layout and one car get trapped in a mound of soil at the side of the road.

Work on the junction has involved the removal of Cross Common Bridge - in a bid to reduce flooding in the area and create a wider and safer junction for road users.

Dinas Powys resident Roger Newberry was driving near Hebron Hall on Friday evening when he said he had a "narrow miss" with the new layout.

He said: "They have built a big loop on the pavement and I nearly drove over it.

"If you are not expecting it it can come as quite a surprise if it is dark and wet."

He said the changes came out of the blue as he approached Longmeadow Drive, after the brow of the hill.

He added: "There should be warning signs or cones there."

The section of road is lit by street lighting and was protected with traffic cones, the Vale council has said, but that these appear to have been moved or tampered with.

Councillor Peter King, the cabinet member for building services, highways and transportation, said the project is ongoing and the current traffic layout represents a temporary situation.

The stretch of road where the car became stuck occurred will not form part of the main traffic route through Dinas Powys.

"The corner or build-out in question affects traffic travelling along the existing Cross Common Road," he said.

"This is lit by a system of street lighting and was protected with traffic cones.

"However, it appears that these may have been removed or tampered with over the weekend.

"As a consequence of the incident, the traffic management measures at the corner have been reviewed and replaced with a more robust arrangement to guide motorists and prevent a re-occurrence of this problem or future driver confusion.

"When the scheme is complete, the section of road where the incident occurred will not form part of the main traffic route and will be fully laid out with appropriate signing and lining.

"The completed scheme will also be subject to a full road safety audit carried out by independent consultants and any safety issues identified will be addressed."