The North Wales Road Network
14:42
Janet Finch-Saunders
6. Will the Minister make a statement on the north Wales road network?
14:42
Edwina Hart
Yes. I am committed to improving the strategic road network in Wales and I am considering options for further investment in north Wales.
14:42
Janet Finch-Saunders
Thank you, Minister. As a Member with a constituency hugely dependent on the welcoming of tourists and a pleasant visitor experience, I am not alone in becoming gravely concerned at the number of times our main arterial link for the north—the A55—has traffic problems, lane closures and carriageway repairs. Already we have seen bank holiday and weekend tailbacks likened now to before the A55 was even constructed. Minister, what steps are you taking to bring about some immediate improvements to the A55, so as to open up this much-needed gateway to north Wales?
14:43
Edwina Hart
Can I make it clear that we are making substantial investments in the A55? Some of these investments are in terms of road safety. I regard road safety as being the absolute priority for me as a transport Minister and I’m sure that you would agree with me, as a Member, that that is very important.
Some of the problems are actually related to what’s happening across our border in terms of some delays that are going to north Wales, but I can assure you, in terms of the programme of investment that we’ve got in north Wales roads, that it’s very substantial. If I just quote you one figure, more money is spent on road schemes in north Wales than in south-east Wales—£135 per head compared with £118 per head in south-east Wales since 2011.