Written Statement: Plans for the Welsh road network

The Welsh road network is a critical part of Wales' socio-economic infrastructure and is integral for safe and inclusive public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling, car travel and freight. The £20bn strategic road network is the Welsh Governments' most valuable infrastructure asset. It goes without question that continued investment in the road network is a key part of achieving an accessible, sustainable efficient and resilient transport system.

Llwybr Newydd recognises the role of the Welsh road network and clearly prioritises making the best use of existing infrastructure by maintaining it and managing it well. That is why fixing roads is one of First Minister's priorities. We are investing an additional £25m this year to fix and prevent 30,000 potholes and defects on our Strategic Road Network. Through the Local Government Borrowing Initiative, we have unlocked £120m for local authorities to do the same over the next two financial years, fixing and preventing over 200,000 potholes.

Maintaining our existing infrastructure also means working to replace major infrastructure, to ensure the resilience of key routes for now and for future generations as the impact of climate change becomes apparent. A great example of this is on the A494, an important route linking north east Wales to the north west of England. We have now selected the preferred option for replacing the River Dee bridge. Over the next 18 months we will progress the project through the planning and procurement processes and then start construction work.

Alongside this we are also investing in enhancing our road network, improving access for people and freight. In the right circumstances, this can also reduce congestion and help address the negative impacts from idling vehicles.  The opening of the A40 Llanddewi Bypass, linking to the ports in west Wales, and the completion of the hugely impressive A465, demonstrates that the Welsh Government continues to invest in roads. The new A465 will unlock economic growth in the Valleys and surrounding areas by improving access for businesses, logistics and tourism. We are now beginning essential work to refresh our resilience studies for our motorway and trunk roads. This will ensure we have the evidence base to inform future investment decisions, to ensure our roads continue to play their role in delivering Wales' socio-economic and net zero policies. We will begin with studies of our busiest trunk roads: the A55 and A494 in North Wales and the M4 in South Wales.

In February 2023, ‘Future road building tests' were published to set out the circumstances in which Welsh Government would consider investment in roads. Having had the benefit of assessing how the tests have been used in practice since their first publication we are today publishing updated guidance, with the aim of providing greater clarity and confidence for local authorities and transport professionals about when investment in the road network will be considered and how the guidance should be used in practice. 

The revised guidance remains consistent with the intent of the original tests to ensure that we increase standards and build better roads, including by encouraging innovative new approaches. It will be incorporated into our Welsh transport appraisal guidance (WelTAG), which sets out the overall approach to developing and assessing transport proposals across Wales.

In the future we will strengthen the role of local leaders in shaping how transport investment is prioritised. Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) are currently finalising their Regional Transport Plans. These will provide a single, strategic 5-year plan for transport in each region of Wales, enabling CJCs to consider the role of the road network in the context of a plan for all modes of transport. From April 2026, we will give CJCs a greater role in decision making about Welsh Government's transport grants to local authorities, to enable them to be focussed on delivering the Regional Transport Plans. At a national level, we will give CJCs a stronger voice in influencing investment in the Strategic Road Network, so that it is consistent with the objectives of the Plans.

The revised WelTAG guidance can be found here: Welsh transport appraisal guidance (WelTAG) | GOV.WALES