A ROAD SAFETY audit of the A477 has been completed by the Welsh Government, following concerns raised by local politicians.
The Transport Minister in the fourth Assembly Edwina Hart has responded to questions raised by Plaid Cymru’s Simon Thomas.
The turn-off from the Llanddowror bypass to Red Roses has been a particular cause for concern, due to the absence of a filter lane for traffic turning left off the A477.
In a written statement, Ms Hart said:
“We routinely monitor collisions across the trunk road network, and cluster sites where safety improvements could be made.
“The A477 was also assessed as part of our Trunk Road Safety Review.”
In relation to the Llanddowror bypass, Ms Hart added:” Stage 1, 2, 3 and 4 Road Safety Audits have been undertaken on the A477 St Clears to Red Roses Improvement Scheme. In view of feedback received, we have installed additional advance warning signs on the approach to the Red Roses junction and are monitoring the junction as part of a 28-day safety inspection to determine if any further work is required.”
Mr Thomas said: “I welcome these improvements. Road safety has been raised with my team on the doorstep during the Assembly election campaign. Transport is vital in our rural counties. Plaid Cymru in government improved the A477 at Llanddowror and introduced extra train services to Fishguard.
We will build on this record with continual improvements to the A477 and examining the case for dualing the A40. But no such improvements will be possible if we allow Labour to blow over £1 billion on a new M4 at Newport.”
However, Angela Burns, who has also raised concerns about the Red Roses junction in the past, suggested that more should be done.
Mrs Burns said: “most of us welcome the bypass but it does have this one flaw that many people are concerned could become fatal. The speed of the traffic coming over the top of the bypass towards Pembrokeshire is very high and there is no filter for traffic wanting to turn left into Red Roses.
“I travel that road a number of times every week and have seen some near misses. I’m a local and approach with caution but I worry about those who aren’t or who are disorientated by poor visibility or simply travelling too fast.”
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