Janet Finch-Saunders AM, Shadow Secretary for Local Government and Assembly Member for Aberconwy, has expressed concern at figures which show that over 57% of closures to the A55 this year have resulted in a section of the road being fully closed off.
From 1st January to 23rd September 2016, sections of the A55 have been closed on 33 occasions, with 19 (57.6%) such occasions resulting in that section to be fully closed. During the remaining 14 closures, a batching or contraflow system was put in place to allow the movement of traffic.
These figures come after it was revealed last year that the Welsh Government had spent almost £5m on a scheme to install barrier crossing points to reduce congestion, but that they had not once been used*.
The Assembly Member for Aberconwy, and Shadow Secretary for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM said:
“These figures are most concerning, particularly given the large amounts of taxpayers’ money that has been put into the congestion management system by the Welsh Government.
“The A55 is a bloodline for North Wales. The road has not just regional significance, but is crucial for international connectivity with Liverpool and Manchester airports. Improvements to this vital road could act as catalyst for improving the regions social and economic connectivity.
“It is crucial that the Welsh Government makes improving traffic flow on the A55 a priority, yet these figures show that, once more, Welsh Labour are risking leaving North Wales behind.
“I will continue to call on the Welsh Government to apply a Wales-wide approach to transport delivery to ensure continuity and coordination, and end the Welsh Labour Government’s skewed and biased approach to transport improvements.”
ENDS
Notes:
The response of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure to Janet Finch-Saunders AM’s recent WAQ is attached.
Janet Finch-Saunders AM spoke on the Welsh Conservatives’ Debate on Transport in North Wales last week, the Record of Proceedings for this debate can be found here: http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=3991&assembly=5&c=Record%20of%20Proceedings#425704
*Reference: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/5m-a55-traffic-congestion-scheme-10782394
