This project is not going ahead.
Overview
The roads review considered this project
Following the review's recommendations, we will not be going ahead with proposed improvements to the A55/A494 A548 Flintshire corridor.
You can read about our current road investment programme in the national transport delivery plan.
Background
This project was started to look at potential improvements on the A494/A55 between the Shotwick interchange and Northop interchange.
These included:
- improving reliability and journey times
- safety, capacity and reduce carbon emissions
- improving connections for businesses and access between residential areas and workplaces
- making more efficient use of the existing transport infrastructure
- better access to public transport
- improving active travel routes (walking, cycling, wheeling)
- how to minimise disruptions for local people if work goes ahead
- potential impact on the landscape, air quality and biodiversity
Previous plans included
- a new 13km two-lane dual carriageway linking the A55-A5119 Northop junction (junction 33) with the A494 and A550 north of Deeside Parkway junction, via Kelsterton interchange and the Flintshire Bridge.
- increasing capacity along the existing A548, including modifications and improvements to junctions and a new section of road between the A548 at Kelsterton and the A55 at Northop.
What we did
We consulted on two routes, along with a 'do nothing' option, in 2017.
We announced our preferred route in September 2017.
We appointed Corderoy to help us manage the delivery of the scheme, with Capita supporting as technical advisors.
Corderoy developed a strategy for the next phase of the scheme.
During late 2020 we gathered data through surveys along the proposed route. This helped us understand more about local ecology, biodiversity, and geological characteristics.
In June 2021 we asked the roads review panel to look at all our road projects and determine which ones should go ahead.
The panel recommended this project should not go ahead because: “The case for change is not well-aligned with Welsh Government’s aim to reduce car mileage.
“The scheme would increase private car capacity and result in a mode shift from public transport to car travel, and this would undermine the target to increase sustainable transport mode share.”