The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on revised options for replacing the A494 River Dee Bridge in Flintshire.
Five options for a replacement have been put forward for consultation, all of which include a proposal to deliver a new bridge along with a new shared path for pedestrians and cyclists.
A ‘best performing option’ (Option E) is identified, although the Welsh Government said it would also welcome views and comments on the other options.
Officials described the bridge, which carries around 68,400 vehicles a day, as a vital connection for cross-border traffic between North Wales and North West England and 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 devolved administration said.
The Welsh Government has reviewed the preferred option identified in 2019 ‘to ensure better alignment with current policies whilst improving value for money and resilience along this strategically important corridor and reducing disruption during construction’.
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.
‘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.’
Officials said the options would ensure traffic could continue to use the existing bridge while work was taking place.
Next steps include:
- May 2025 – preferred option selected/outline business case
- September 2025 – Draft Orders published
- Spring/Summer 2026 – public inquiry
- Summer 2026 – Ministerial Decision to proceed
- Winter 26-27/Spring 2027 – Work Begins
- Summer/Autumn 2029 – Work completed
In February last year, the Welsh Government cancelled a swathe of road schemes and set out new conditions for all future schemes to meet, with an emphasis on their environmental impact.
