Advisors appointed to develop £200m road improvement plans

Technical advisors AECOM, Richards and Moorhead & Laing have been appointed to develop options for the £200m Welsh government road improvements in north east Wales.

The improvements are expected to boost the economy by improving access to Deeside Enterprise Zone and north Wales.

The three companies will carry out the next stage of the A55/A494/A548 Deeside corridor improvement project to improve the road network in the area between Wrexham, Chester and Deeside.

Two routes, recommended in the previous stage one study, will be assessed. One is a package of highway and transport improvements focusing on the existing A55/A494 alignment from the River Dee Bridge to Northop and the second highway and transport improvements utilising the existing A458 Flintshire Bridge.

Transport Minister, Edwina Hart said: “The Deeside corridor is an important economic route and the gateway to north Wales. This area has been identified in our National Transport Plan and this next stage will see the development of detailed plans to improve traffic flows at important locations along the trunk roads. The Welsh government is committed to improving transport across Wales to create jobs and growth.”

The selection of the preferred route is expected before the end of 2016.