North Wales politicians call for long-term improvements on A55 and A494
Calls for lasting improvements to the A55 and A494 have been renewed in the Senedd following a series of recent accidents and traffic disruption across Flintshire.
There were long delays on the expressway during the morning rush hour after a three-vehicle collision on the Queensferry section of the A494. Fortunately, no injuries were reported at the scene.
Delyn MS Hannah Blythyn and North Wales MS Mark Isherwood both pressed the Welsh Government on Tuesday to act on long-standing safety and congestion issues affecting key routes through Flintshire.
Hannah Blythyn highlighted particular concerns at junction 32 near Halkyn, following a number of serious incidents over the summer and autumn.
She told the Senedd she had met with Councillor Simon Jones and Halkyn Community Council to discuss the issue.
Ms Blythyn said: “First and foremost, our thoughts go out to those who were injured and have been impacted by them, but it has a knock-on impact on the local community, and also the economy too, whether that’s haulage vehicles stuck in traffic.
“I think junction 32 in particular has challenges around its layout and poor visibility, and if your sat nav sends you down that route and you’re not familiar with it, then that exacerbates the issue.”
First Minister Eluned Morgan confirmed that the junction would form part of the A55, A494 and A483 transport needs and resilience study, commissioned last week.
She said: “Officials are aware of these issues at this location, and this junction in particular, and that will be a part of the A55, A494 and A483 transport needs and resilience study. The interim report will be due in the spring, and the final report will be due in the autumn.”
The First Minister said the study would take an “evidence-led and multimodal” approach, identifying potential interventions to improve safety and reliability across North Wales.
In her response, Ms Morgan said the Welsh Government’s traffic officer service operates on the A55 all year round to minimise disruption, and that £2.5 million has been spent on resurfacing work in Flintshire to repair and prevent potholes.
North Wales MS Mark Isherwood raised long-standing congestion problems where the A55 meets the A494 near Ewloe, which he described as “notorious for delays, queues and accidents”.
He told the Senedd: “Only yesterday morning, a three-vehicle crash near Queensferry caused chaos on the A494 and the A55.
“Traffic was reported backed up to junction 33 on the A55, and Pinfold Lane on the A494. I personally witnessed the tail end of this.”
Mr Isherwood said the problems had persisted for decades despite “successive failed scheme proposals”, and called for the Welsh Government to ensure “local communities are genuinely involved early in co-producing solutions”.
After the debate, he said: “Yet again, this First Minister exhibited her great gift for not answering the question.”
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