Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change
As a result of previous budget agreements with Plaid Cymru, the National Transport Delivery plan, published in February 2023, reaffirmed our commitment to continue work on options to progress the Llandeilo bypass scheme.
Following constructive discussions with Adam Price, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, I am pleased to be able to make a statement to Members on the way forward regarding this commitment.
This includes a package of sustainable transport interventions to support active travel and deliver modal shift in Llandeilo and Ffairfach, as well as a new road to address the localised impact of traffic in Llandeilo town centre.
Following extensive transport appraisal work and stakeholder consultation, we have identified a preferred route for the new road. We will now commence outline and detailed design work, delivered through a joint project team that brings together Carmarthenshire County Council, Transport for Wales, and the Welsh Government’s Strategic Road Network team. I have today written to Carmarthenshire County Council to provide further detail on this announcement and an indicative timeline as we work towards construction and completion of the new road.
The new road has the potential to facilitate modal shift and development work will consider opening up existing routes for increased active travel provision, delivering accessible public transport through bus priority, and improving connectivity to existing bus and rail links. Other interventions, including active travel to schools, car clubs, and cycle hire schemes will be considered as part of the overall programme.
A one-way traffic flow system in Rhosmaen Street would be introduced as part of the overall programme. This could, in turn support a wider regeneration programme to enhance the environment within the commercial centres of Llandeilo and Ffairfach. The new road would also lead to improved air quality on the current A483 at Rhosmaen Street. The road speed would be reduced at sensitive locations, including Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, to improve safety.
Further design work will explore opportunities to increase the resilience of the strategic road network to flooding in Ffairfach, including through highway embankment and ancillary works.
Alongside this statement, we have published a map to visualise the preferred route for the new road that we have selected. We are also aiming to publish the WelTAG stage 2 summary of consultation responses and the TR111 plan which protects the preferred route by the end of April.