Clwyd West MS Darren Millar who has previously challenged the Welsh Government over the extortionate amount of money spent on temporary traffic lights on two bridges over the A55, has welcomed news that repair work on one of the bridges is set to be completed by the end of March 2025, but is disappointed no date has been set for the other.
Darren recently submitted a Written Question to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Ken Skates MS, asking when repair work to the Primrose Hill bridge in St George, and the Sea Road Bridge in Abergele will be completed.
When Darren and North Wales MS Sam Rowlands challenged the Welsh Government over the cost of having temporary traffic lights at both locations back in June 2023, the figure stood at almost £230,000.
Darren asked the same question this week and was told by the Cabinet Secretary that the total costs to date are: Sea Road Bridge: £173,553.51, Primrose Hill Bridge: £84,181.43, at total of almost £260,000.
He was therefore pleased to be told that the repair work to the Primrose Hill Bridge is programmed to be completed by the end of this financial in March 2025.
However, he is concerned that there is currently not similar good news for the Sea Road Bridge, with the Cabinet Secretary stating that “Sea Road Bridge is a considerably more complicated and costly engineering scheme, and at present, there are higher priorities elsewhere on the Strategic Road Network. Fixing our roads is a priority and we will progress this scheme at the earliest opportunity when funding is available.”
Darren said:
“Both Sam and I have repeatedly called for these works to be carried out urgently, and whilst I welcome the fact that a date has now been given for the Primrose Hill works, it is disappointing that no date has been given for the works on the Sea Road bridge.
“The vast amount of money that has been spent on temporary traffic lights at both these locations over the years could have been put to better use had the Welsh Government acted faster and I am concerned that money will continue to be spent on the Sea Road lights as it is currently not considered a priority.
“As I have previously stated these lights were supposed to be temporary, yet the ones on Sea Road have been there for 14 years!
“I’m sure that residents are as frustrated as us that we are still waiting, and that such large sums of taxpayers’ money has been spent on these so called “temporary” over the years.
“I look forward to seeing the works completed on the Primrose Hill bridge before the end of March, and in the meantime will continue putting pressure of the Cabinet Secretary to set a date for works on the Sea Road bridge.”
Sam said:
“I welcome news that work on the Primrose Hill bridge will be completed by the end of March, but like Darren I am disappointed and frustrated that we are still waiting for a date for the Sea Road improvements.
“As I have said in the past, the Welsh Government’s reluctance to act quickly on this matter provides further evidence that it has no shame when it comes to being wasteful with taxpayers’ money.”
