WIREDGOV

A consultation opens today on a shortlist of options for a replacement of the A494 River Dee Bridge in Flintshire.

The bridge provides a vital connection for cross-border traffic between North Wales and the North West of England, and is a key entry point to the Deeside Industrial Park, one of Europe’s largest industrial estates.

A new bridge is needed as the requirement for repairs on the existing bridge is increasing. Inspections and monitoring to date have concluded that the frequency of repairs and the risk of major repair and intervention requiring the closure of the bridge is growing year-on-year.

The preferred option identified in 2019 has been reviewed to ensure better alignment with current policies whilst improving value for money and resilience along this strategically important corridor and reducing disruption during construction. 

The bridge carries approximately 68,400 vehicles a day, and five options for a replacement for this important link have been put forward for consultation. The public and stakeholders are invited to provide their views on the shortlisted options.

The five options all include a proposal to deliver a new bridge along with a new shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. The options would ensure traffic could continue to use the existing bridge while work was taking place. Following the consultation, a preferred option will be taken forward.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said:

Fixing our roads is a priority for this government, and the replacement of the Dee Bridge crossing is a key scheme which we are taking forward.

It is a vital gateway to North Wales, and is key for cross-border traffic. The current structure is ageing and sporadic closures for repairs and monitoring cause disruption and will be detrimental in the long term as more work will need to be done.

A replacement is therefore required. Everyone now has the opportunity to have their say on the possible options.

We will listen carefully to people’s views and we expect to outline the way forward in May next year.

The consultation begins today (9 December) until 4 March, and a public exhibition will be held between 10am and 7pm on Tuesday 21 January at St Andrew’s Church, Garden City.

The options can be viewed and feedback submitted using the online questionnaire by visiting the consultation page.

The project team can also be contacted via A494RiverDeeBridgeConsultation@gov.wales or by completing an envelope addressed to ‘Freepost A494’.

The Welsh Government has invested £1bn to fix roads on 1100 miles of network since 2021, including £250m this financial year.