BYPASS FACING HOLD UP
Public inquiry date puts completion back to 2019 on Bontnewydd relief road
THE £65m Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass could be further delayed as there is still no date for the public inquiry which must take place before work can begin.
That’s the fear of politicians who have already seen the project fall behind its original schedule, which would have meant work starting in late 2016.
The scheme was originally supposed to be finished by the end of 2018, but ran into delays amid concerns over bats and otters on the route.
Work is currently set to begin in the autumn and the bypass is expected to be completed by late 2019.
But there are concerns the scheme could run into more delays after contractors Jones Brothers confirmed that they’re still awaiting a date for the public inquiry before work can begin.
A public inquiry is part of the process for major road projects.
Arfon MP Hywel Williams has now written to the Welsh Government to seek a date for the public inquiry, while Siân Gwenllian AM raised the issue during First Minister’s Questions in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Ms Gwenllian warned that, if the timetable for the scheme slips further, work will have to be carried out over two winters and one summer instead of two summers and one winter.
“This will further add to the delays,” she said.
Mr Williams said: “The Caernarfon bypass is an important project for the area.
“In the long term, it will ease the scourge of traffic conges- tion in the historic town centre, encouraging business growth and prosperity.
“In the short term, it will provide hundreds of jobs.
“It’s vital that local businesses get involved during the building stage so that as many workers as possible are recruited locally.
“We’ve met with the contractors who are keen to press ahead with the scheme, but they still don’t have a start date.”
First Minister Carwyn Jones said during First Minister’s Questions that the Welsh Gov- ernment will be making an announcement on the next stages shortly.
“The commitment to build the bypass still exists,” he said.
The 9.8km bypass will begin at the A499/A487 Goat roundabout and end at the existing Plas Menai roundabout.
It will form a western bypass to Llanwnda, Dinas and Bontnewydd, before crossing the existing A487 to pass south of Caernarfon quarry and over the River Seiont.
The new route then passes south of Cibyn Industrial Estate to a junction with the A4086.