Plea for 'hard shoulders' along large parts of A55 sparks call for 'proper makeover'

Wales Online

2 days ago

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A plea for "hard shoulders" along significant portions of the A55 has been issued in an attempt to reduce traffic congestion. The dual carriageway was constructed in various sections over several decades by different UK governments, with the final part on Anglesey completed in 2001. North Wales Live readers feel that hard shoulders will not solve the issue and say there needs to be more investment.
Critics have labelled the road as "not fit for purpose". Calls have been made for a range of investments - from a third Menai crossing to the removal of the roundabouts at Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan. There have also been suggestions for other modifications along the route - from altering "dangerous" junctions to enhancing resilience.
Darren Millar, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Clwyd West MS, this week urged the Welsh Government to invest in the A55 trunk road. He informed Transport Secretary Ken Skates that creating hard shoulders along large parts of its length and planning for contraflows would ease congestion.
In response, the Cabinet Secretary stated: "There are resilience issues that affect many of our trunk roads. We will be carrying out specific work in regard to the A55, but I believe that there is a broader piece of work required to look at all of our major routes."
Mr Millar added: "The A55 is the lifeblood of the North Wales economy, but sadly it has the unpopular accolade of being one of the worst congested roads in the UK. It is therefore vital that the Welsh Government make improving this trunk road a priority."
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, shared with North Wales Live: "We're continuing to progress improvements to the A55 including consideration of how connections to and from Ynys Môn can be made more resilient.
"This includes improvements to the A55 junctions and carriageway alignments, introduction of wind deflectors to Britannia Bridge and improvements for walking cycling. This study is now nearing completion and we'll be making announcements on the preferred options and next stages shortly."
Commenter Banne says: 'Good grief - what is this obsession with 'active travel' by walking/cycling! We need a better A55 which is the artery of North Wales, not more cycle paths alongside it!'
Dye replies: 'Unfortunately the Welsh assembly was too busy spending tax payers money on their 20 mph project, instead of prioritising our most dangerous roads. Every week there is a collision on the A55, sometimes 2 or 3.'
Geedeebee adds: 'They need to lengthen the entry slip roads, the ones at Jnt 25 Bodelwyddan are both short and have a 90 degree turn on entry.'
Pcmon thinks: 'Far too much money wasted on unused cycle paths to nowhere, 20mph speed reductions, with no evidence of any major benefits. These people making decisions are supposed to be educated people. Why is it that they do not care about the main supply route to the North of Wales? If this route is forced to shut for any major time, or even for a contraflow system, the knock on effect for businesses and tourism will be massive. We are not all able to ride bikes and walk in these places. Even the cyclists don't use the cycle paths.'
Northwalessaint points out: 'There's nothing wrong with the road, the problem is poor driving, with too many impatient, inconsiderate drivers. There are plenty of more important things to spend scarce resources on rather than roads.'
Angleseygirl complains: 'We will never get anything to improve the A55 as it's only the south that gets money spent on their roads. There are now numerous weekly accidents on it which isn't surprising given the amount of traffic on it. I honestly don't know why they built it as a dual carriageway, it's the main route into North Wales!'
Weneedpie writes: 'I would remind people that the A55 is a Euro route paid mostly from monies from the EU. Doubt now we have had Brexit it would have been built. There is no need for hard shoulders on the A55; it would be wasted money. There are plenty of other more pressing spending priorities transport wise, the electrification of the Holyhead to Chester line, the congestion around the gateway to England and a new motorway to relieve the congestion and the A483, A5 route to the South which is in need of bigger roundabouts and dual carriageways.'
Spikeloe adds: 'The A55 is a designated Euro Route and any changes have to comply with the road building manual for Euro Routes. Putting lay-bys here and there is a dangerous idea, as traffic leaving the laybys from a standing start into 70mph traffic is a recipe for disaster. The Welsh Government has dallied about improving the border counties gateway into North Wales for years, with the result that queues are tolerated as a daily occurrence.'
Borntobemild thinks: 'Mr Millar's suggestions seem to be aimed more at minimising disruption after a collision has taken place, rather than preventing the collisions. The A55 needs a proper makeover, like the Heads of The Valleys road. But that cost £2bn, and took 23 years to complete 28 miles.'
Does the A55 need improvement? Do you think hard shoulders are the answer? Have your say in our comments section.