The Welsh Government has opened the A40 Llanddewi Velfrey to Redstone Cross road scheme in Pembrokeshire, which received joint funding of £60 million from the European Union (EU) and the Welsh Government.
The scheme, which was opened 2 May by the First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, is hoped to improve connectivity, reduce journey times, provide extra resilience and reliability and enhance road safety. It consists of a 6km upgrade to the old road, a new carriageway, new roundabouts, 2 new bridges, 22 culverts, a new active travel route and environmental landscaping with over 450,000 plants and trees.
Alongside improving accessibility to employment, tourism and community areas along the east-west corridor in south Wales, the scheme has also created opportunities for the national and local economy, including employing 97% of workers from across Wales, working with more than 100 Welsh businesses as part of the supply chain and employing more than 50 unemployed people and 16 apprentices from the area.
The scheme also features multiple environmental benefits, including the safeguarding of protected species such as badgers, bats, and dormice via mammal fencing, underpasses, and habitat connectivity and the planting of 150,000 new trees and 300,000 new plants.
Ms Morgan, said: ‘Fixing our roads is a key priority for us. We’ve spent £1bn fixing and improving our roads since 2021, including more than £250m in the past year.
‘The completion of the A40 Llanddewi Velfrey to Redstone Cross Improvement scheme is excellent news for Southwest Wales providing a more resilient accessible transport link for tourism and key strategic ports in Pembrokeshire.
‘The scheme also helps connect local communities to key transport hubs, as well as promoting healthy lifestyles with the introduction of a new route for people wishing to cycle, walk or ride horses.’
The cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said: ‘This project is an impressive piece of engineering and a great example of how targeted investment in road infrastructure can deliver on many levels, providing jobs for the local community, improving accessibility, supporting education and skills, alongside delivering environmental benefits.
‘It’s been a complex project involving a number of key partners and I would like to thank everyone who has played their part in helping us to deliver this.’
