New Junction Completes First Phase Of £5m Link Road

The first phase of the £5 million Carmarthen West Link Road has been completed with the opening of the new Jobswell Road junction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The road, which will connect the A40 at Travellers Rest with College Road in Johnstown, is
under construction by Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd, on behalf of the council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It will improve access to key employment sites at St David’s Park, the University of Wales Trinity St David and Coleg Sir Gâr, and serve the new S4C headquarters Yr Egin; as well as open up land for new homes and a primary school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A major milestone is the completion of the new junction on Jobswell Road featuring MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation) technology traffic signals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This means the signals are more responsive to traffic conditions helping to disperse queues and keep traffic flowing, particularly during peak times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The completion of these works also coincides with planning consent being granted to the University of Wales Trinity St David for the Canolfan S4C Yr Egin. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The remaining phases of works will be programmed to ensure the road is completed in time for Yr Egin, which is due to open in 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Emlyn Dole, Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans and Environment Director Ruth Mullen visited the site at Jobswell Road to see the new junction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Dole said: “I am delighted the first phase of the road has been completed and the new junction has been opened and is working well. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is a much-needed development for Carmarthen providing a significant economic boost to the area with major benefits to the local community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthen West has been identified as a strategic site within the council’s Local Development Plan and is allocated for mixed use development including 1,100 new homes, a primary school, employment space, open space and affordable housing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council has received a £1.3 million grant from Welsh Government towards construction of the road, with further support from University of Wales Trinity Saint David. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Evans said: “It was very exciting to see to the progress made on site. As well as providing direct transport links, the new road will also help to alleviate traffic congestion in the area, particularly at Jobswell Road.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​