Ken Skates Officially Opens £50m Ceredigion Link Road

The £50m A486 Ceredigion link road is now officially open after Economy and Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates marked the completion of the £5.7m stretch from Post Bach to Synod Inn at a celebration event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Designed by Capita and constructed by Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd, this last part of the wider scheme has seen construction of approximately 3km of highway realignment, including a 7.3m wide single carriageway and shared use footway/cycleway. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Welsh Government has provided over £43m of funding for this road over a number of years and today’s event marks the completion of that work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The route provides a key link from west Wales through to Carmarthen and the M4 corridor and is now benefitting communities in Horeb, Croeslan, Dostrasol, Capel Cynon, Post Bach, Synod Inn and Llandysul. It has also transformed links for business, agriculture, commuters and tourists, helping to support the regional economy. We’ve worked closely with Ceredigion Council to deliver this road and it’s been particularly pleasing to see Welsh based contractors using local suppliers and contractors wherever possible for the duration of this project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We recognise that this is not the end of the journey and there are further opportunities to strengthen the transport links into Ceredigion. We will continue to maintain TrawsCymru and other key services whilst, in the longer term remaining committed to investigating the options for reopening the rail line between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m determined to deliver a sustainable transport network which connects communities and business across Wales to jobs and services. This road forms part of that vision and it’s fantastic to hear and see the difference it is already making to so many.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ceredigion County Council Leader, Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am very grateful for the support from the Welsh Government to bring this project to fruition. Residents of Ceredigion depend on the A486 for a direct link to the M4 and I am confident that the extensive improvement works to the road infrastructure will improve links for business and tourism for the benefit of the economy of the county.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​