Pause on all new Welsh roads schemes

All new road building projects in Wales are being put on hold while the Welsh Government conducts a review.

This means proposals for the Deeside “Red Route”, the Llandeilo bypass and a third Menai crossing will all be paused. However projects will continue if construction work has begun, for example the Heads of the Valleys scheme.

Deputy climate change minister Lee Waters announced the review in the Welsh Parliament on Tuesday afternoon. According to ministers, the decision to pause projects is necessary to reduce carbon emissions, with Wales aiming to reach net zero by 2050.

Waters said that, in the next decade, Wales needs to double what has been cut in the last 30 years. He emphasised the importance of factoring in transport emissions.

He told BBC Wales: “Transport generates something like 17% of all our emissions, so it has to play its part.

“If we can hit these climate change targets, that’s got to change. That means redirecting investment.

“If we carry on going as we’re going, we’re not going to hit net zero until 2090. At the very latest scientists tell us we have until 2050 to stop this running out of control.”

As part of the plans the Welsh government wants to shift money from new roads to maintaining existing routes and investing in public transport.

However Welsh Conservatives transport spokesperson Natasha Asghar said the decision could cause a “significant blow” to economic recovery.

“Many roads across Wales are not fit for purpose and have had a damaging impact on our economic fortunes, environment and public safety. Regular traffic jams deter investment and have contributed to Wales having some of the worst air quality in the UK,” she said.

“Welsh workers and businesses urgently require more information about the scope of the review and the Welsh Labour Government’s long-term intentions for our transport infrastructure.”

Plaid Cymru’s climate change spokesperson Delyth Jewell also emphasised the need for infrastructure investment.

“This move from the Welsh government, whilst a welcome indication that they are serious about tackling carbon emissions, cannot mean that communities that are long overdue infrastructure investment are left behind,” she said.

“Communities like Llandeilo, who are understandably angry that this has been announced without consultation, have seen air pollution levels in their town centre rise to higher than the national standards and would benefit from the kind of infrastructure investment that has been promised but continuously delayed for the last six years.”

Source https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/pause-on-all-new-welsh-roads-schemes-23-06-2021/

Department of Civil Engineering https://www.ibu.edu.ba/department-of-civil-engineering/