Opportunities are opening up on major roads projects in Wales after a policy shift this summer by the Welsh Government partially reversed an embargo on new roads projects.
Following the Welsh roads review, ‘regionally important' schemes are now permitted provided they meet new low-carbon transport criteria.
'The revised guidance remains consistent with the intent of the original tests to ensure that we increase standards and build better roads, including by encouraging innovative new approaches,' said Ken Skates, cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales, in a statement this summer. Procurement has now begun on major projects in Aberdare, Llandeilo, Deeside and Newport.
Rhonda Cynon Taff County Borough Council's £50m Cynon Gateway project for a 1.2km stretch of highway linking the A4059 Aberdare Bypass east of Penywaun to a new roundabout at Croesbychan on the A465 was halted in 2021 amid concerns about how the environmental impact and carbon emissions aligned with the country's new transport priorities. That has now changed.
GL Hearn and Quantum Geotechnical have been working with the council, which held a market engagement event for suppliers on October 15. The tender process starts this month (November) with construction due to begin in May 2026 and run for three years.
Procurement is beginning on plans by Transport for Wales (TfW) for a £100m bypass on the A483 between Llandeilo and Ffairfach. A preferred route has already been identified and the project will also include a 100-m bridge over the River Towy, and a market engagement event was held in Cardiff on October 27 for contractors and consultants.
Capita has been working on the plans, and Arcadis is managing the engagement process on behalf of TfW and interested suppliers must submit a questionnaire by November 10. The full construction contract is expected to go out to tender in February 2026, with work starting in July 2026 and running to early 2031.
Draft orders have been published for the £174m A494 River Dee bridge project on Deeside, where, depending on the outcome of a public local enquiry this spring, enabling works are due to start in Autumn 2026.
Elsewhere, a prior information notice is expected to be published on November 17 for a £10.8m plan to replace the Bassaleg Bridge in Newport by the city council.