The Welsh Government is investing £243,000 to improve access and alleviate current levels of traffic at Deeside Industrial Park, Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates has announced.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The scheme, which will be undertaken by Flintshire County Council, will see a partial signalisation of the A548/Parkway Roundabout at Zone 2 of the Industrial Park which will improve the flow of traffic to and from businesses in the area.
A reduced 40 mph speed limit will also be implemented on the A548 approaches to and through the roundabout junction to improve safety.
Parkway serves as the single point of access and exit for Zone 2 and as such, the route becomes congested particularly during shift changes. The proposed improvements, which will commence in early 2019, will help ease traffic issues and ensure the road network in the area is safer for the travelling public.
Flintshire Council has been working closely with businesses on the park to improve traffic flows at peak times of the day and earlier this year a trial traffic management system was installed with positive results.
The investment in the A548 junction is part of the North East Wales metro which develops integrated transport hubs and improves connectivity between those hubs and connects them with rest of Wales, the UK and beyond.
Other projects benefiting in the Deeside area as part of the metro scheme include the integration of Shotton High/Low stations and a new Deeside Parkway station which are currently being progressed.
Economy and Transport Secretary, Ken Skates said:
“Deeside Industrial Park is a significant employment site in North East Wales and ensuring vehicles are able to travel easily in the area is vital for businesses and workers as well as to the Welsh economy as a whole.
“We have listened to concerns regarding the levels of traffic congestion along the length of Parkway and we are taking action by investing £243,000 in a Flintshire Council led scheme which will be essential in improving the situation.
“Road safety will always be the number one priority and following a number of incidents on approach to the A548 Parkway Roundabout at Zone 2, a reduction in the speed limit will also be introduced in the area.
“Providing improved and sustainable access to Deeside and the Deeside Industrial Park is a key aim of my ambitions for the North East Wales Metro and today’s announcement provides yet more assurance to businesses of the important steps we are taking.”
Flintshire County Council Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside Services, Cllr Carolyn Thomas said:
“I am delighted that we have secured funding for this key scheme which is another step forward in delivering the North East Wales Metro project. Once again, this demonstrates the clear commitment by the current administration to improving the overall County transport network.”