Welsh Transport Minister Edwina Hart has outlined the next stages of the project to construct the new A487 Caernarfon to Bontnewydd bypass.The contract for the project was awarded to Jones Bros and Balfour Beatty last month and they will begin environmental and engineering surveys along the route corridor shortly. Public exhibitions will take place in March to introduce the project team, outline the proposals and explain the timetable for the scheme.Subject to the completion of all the statutory processes and any public inquiry, construction work is expected to start in late 2016.The Minister said: “I am pleased to see progress being made on this important project which will improve journey times and safety on the A487 as well as improving the quality of life for local residents.”The bypass will be 9.8km in length starting at the A499/A487 Goat roundabout   and ending at the existing A487 Plas Menai roundabout. It will form a western bypass to Llanwnda Dinas and Bontnewydd before crossing the existing A487 to pass south of Caernarfon Quarry. It then crosses the River Seiont, passes south of the Cibyn Industrial Estate to a junction with the A4086. After crossing the B4366 the route drops steeply to the Plas Menai Roundabout.The contract is a joint venture between local contractor Jones Bros and Balfour Beatty. They will be supported by Parsons Brinckerhoff and TACP as their technical and environmental advisors.