£29m to be spent on Welsh transport schemes

Welsh Transport Minister Edwina Hart has announced almost £29 million funding for transport schemes across the country.

The announcement was made during a visit by the Minister to the construction site of the final phase of the new Morfa Distributor Road in Swansea.

The £5.6m scheme will receive a £1.15m grant from the Local Transport Fund in 2016/17.  The new road will improve access to jobs and services, open the area up to further economic development, and reduce congestion and air quality problems on the A4067 Neath Road. New walking and cycling links will also be built alongside the road.

Mrs Hart said: “I am pleased to announce the Welsh Government will be funding the completion of this important new road. By improving access to jobs and services, creating economic growth, reducing congestion and supporting active travel this is an excellent example of the type of scheme we are funding with £17.6m worth of Local Transport Fund grants in the next financial year. The money will be used to fund 38 different road, public transport and active travel projects across Wales.

“In addition I am today announcing nearly £11m to fund more than 70 schemes to improve road safety and create safe walking and cycling routes in communities all over Wales.”

Other major investments include:

• £1.498m for the A48-A473 link road to improve access to the Waterton Industrial Estate, Bridgend.



• £1.12m for the Port Talbot integrated transport hub next to Parkway Railway Station



• £1.75m towards the construction of Stage 1 and Stage 2 and scheme development for Stage 3 of the Llangefni Link Road

The grants have been awarded through four different funds, from which local authorities can bid for money to support their projects.