DELAYED plans to upgrade the A494 River Dee crossing in Flintshire will go ahead, Wales’ new transport secretary has said.

Work on the bridge in Deeside was originally planned to start in 2020 before being delayed to 2024. 

Transport Secretary Ken Skates recently told the Senedd that the project will go ahead, pending another public consultation. Mr Skates said so too will active travel upgrades on Wrexham's Mold Road.

He said: “If you’re in any doubt about the future of roads, let me say this: the renewed A494 River Dee crossing will go ahead. The Mold Road improvements into Wrexham will go ahead.”

The River Dee Bridge, built in 1960, is a gateway into Wales - carrying around 61,000 vehicles per day.

The Welsh Government has said the bridge is in a "poor structural condition" and it is looking at options to replace it. 

The government said it has identified a preferred option which includes a new river crossing for westbound traffic and the partial reuse of the existing River Dee Bridge for eastbound traffic.

Following the publication of Welsh Government’s response to the Roads Review including the four future road building tests in February 2023, the Welsh Government is now reviewing the scheme’s objectives and proposals to ensure they meet with current "policy aims and ambitions" regarding carbon emissions.

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Public consultation on these ideas will be held this year with a view to selecting a new preferred option. “We then intend to publish draft orders and an environmental statement during spring or summer 2025,” the Welsh Government said. 

Regarding the Mold Road, Wrexham scheme, a Welsh Government spokesperson added: "As our National Transport Delivery Plan sets out, Transport for Wales is working with Wrexham Council to assess a range of possible interventions at this location.

"This could include improved bus links, better paths for walking and cycling, as well as changes to the road network.”

The scheme would form part of the multi-million pound Wrexham Gateway project to redevelop the area between STōK Cae Ras and Wrexham General train station.

Split between east and west, the east side of the scheme has already received £25 million worth of Welsh Government funding. It will see major redevelopment of the site around the Wrexham General station, including commercial development and upgrades to the civic and amenity spaces.

The western side is the Kop stand redevelopment at STōK Cae Ras. That includes groundworks for a hotel, potential conference facilities and also car parking.