£100m Bontnewydd bypass will be delayed by a year

THE first details of a new multi-million pound bypass have been unveiled.

But community leaders say plans for the new Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass will come a year later than expected and at a detriment to the local economy.

The project, which was unveiled by the Welsh Government last week, will cost between £90m and £100m and is expected to start at the end of 2015 or early 2016.

However, Caernarfon town councillors claim the government has “broken promises” on the timeframe of the scheme – with some insisting that speedy action is needed to alleviate the area’s traffic woes and to stop tourists from being driven away.

Town councillor Hywel Roberts said: “The Welsh Government published its Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan for Growth and Jobs on May 22 and it said that construction could start by the end of 2015 or beginning of 2016.

“If this is the case considerable planning, appointment of contractors etc would need to be done well in advance during the period of the 2012-2015 programme.

“There have been two enquiries into the need for this bypass and during the last enquiry the clear impression was given that plans would be prepared following the completion of the Porthmadog bypass with a likely start date of 2014.

“So why isn’t this project mentioned in the 2012-2015 programme, detailed in the main report on road developments?

“I’m bitterly disappointed by this decision as Caernarfon needs this bypass, as does Bontnewydd.

“The town council is quite right to complain about its omission and to bring pressure to bring the work forward.

“We must continue to keep an eagle eye on these plans to ensure that this vital development doesn’t slip even further down the list of the Welsh Government’s priorities.”

Fellow Cadnant councillor Dylan Jones said he had written to the Welsh Government in the past to press the issue.

“While I received a carefully worded answer which clearly states that the scheme will go ahead, no definite timescale is given and the fact that only Bontnewydd is to be bypassed is not ruled out,” he added.

“In my opinion this would only exacerbate Caernarfon’s traffic problems further.

“The tailbacks experienced during the recent Urdd Eisteddfod highlights the fact that the present road is inadequate for today’s traffic levels.”

According to the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan, the bypass will take a “strategic west route” linking the A55 with Lln, which would relieve traffic congestion in Bontnewydd as well as improve journey times and safety.

However, the Welsh Government has still not revealed which route the bypass will take.

It is understood that an agent for the project will be chosen this summer.

Town councillors William Lloyd Davies said residents had been let down.

He said: “The government raised our hopes by saying this work was happening and now the plans have all but disappeared.

“I am extremely disappointed that we have been misled.”

Councillor Ioan Thomas said: “At the meetings we were told that the status quo was not an option and that minor repairs to the A487 had been ruled out – a bypass was the only solution.

“It is hoped that the bypass will boost the economy and tourism but no tourist will wait in traffic for hours.”

Councillors voted in favour of writing to First Minister Carwyn Jones appealing for work on the bypass to start sooner.