Action is being taken to improve the A545 in Beaumaris which has been affected by severe weather conditions in recent years, Transport Secretary Ken Skates has announced.
The Welsh Government is providing £75,000 alongside £60,000 investment by Beaumaris Town Council and £24,000 from Isle of Anglesey County Council for slope stabilisation works which will help strengthen the road’s resilience.
The funding is in addition to the £374,000 announced last month by the Welsh Government to support the local authority with repair costs caused by extreme weather in November 2017. This included a separate landslip on the A545 which resulted in the road being closed for several days.
Welsh Government Transport Secretary Ken Skates said:
“Ensuring roads throughout Wales are safe is an absolute priority for the Welsh Government. I’m pleased the £75,000 grant from our Local Transport Fund will enable works which will improve the A545 bringing greater security to people in the area and helping safeguard the route in the event of future severe weather conditions.
“Developing stronger regional partnerships is an important part of our new Economic Action Plan and I am pleased we are working in collaboration with Isle of Anglesey County Council and Beaumaris Town Council to deliver this essential work.”
Anglesey Council Highways portfolio holder, Councillor Bob Parry, welcomed the announcement. He said:
“This is positive news for Beaumaris and the local community. Despite the County Council’s best efforts, landslides have badly hit this important strategic route in recent years. They have caused untold traffic congestion; hit residents and, in particular, local businesses hard.
“The combined funding of the Welsh Government, Beaumaris Town Council and Isle of Anglesey County Council will allow us to improve the A545 below Beaumaris cemetery and provide a long term solution at this location.”
Beaumaris Town Mayor, Cllr Jason Zalot said:
“Beaumaris Town Council wholeheartedly welcomes the investment of Welsh Government funding which will further secure the repairs and integrity of the main A545 road link from Beaumaris to Menai Bridge and the rest of the world.
“This funding helps modernise the road to support the large coaches and high volumes of traffic we have today, as well as cope with the increase demand we expect in the future.
“We are pleased this collaboration and investment in the A545 will ensure emergency services, school buses, and the tourism sector are able to continue in a manner that serves the locality safely and consistently, and hope the knock on effect will see improved levels of prosperity within the area for the community as a whole.”