MULTI-MILLION pound road improvements schemes for the A487 in Ceredigion will form part of a review which follows the Welsh Government announcement of a freeze on new road building projects earlier this year.

The long-mooted new Dyfi Bridge will go-ahead along with eight other projects already planned around Wales and not be part of the review, the Welsh Government confirmed this week, but all other proposals will be looked at in review of highway schemes in a bid to tackle climate change.

Projects under review include a £5.95 million scheme to improve safety on the A487 Llanrhystud is a “priority” due to “risky” overtaking from cars in both directions, and cars “speeding through the village.”

The proposed plans would see a new roundabout installed on the outskirts of the village, with an extra lane for a section of the stretch of road between Llanrhystud and Llanon.

A £17.4m scheme outside Aberarth, which would see the construction of two climbing lane sections to provide overtaking opportunities, will also be reviewed.

Public consultations into both schemes had been held earlier this year, along with similar schemes in Llangurig and Llanidloes, but no outcome has yet been published by the Welsh Government.

Last week, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS, announced the chair and panel that will be carrying out the Welsh Government’s Roads Review and confirmed the road schemes that will be considered as part of the review.

The Panel consisting of climate change and transport specialists from across the UK, will be led by Dr Lynn Sloman MBE.

Mr Waters said: “Transport generates around 17 per cent of all our emissions, so must play its part if we are to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2050.

“We need to move away from spending money on projects that encourage more people to drive, and redirect this money on maintaining our existing roads and investing in real alternatives.

“We recognise that these decisions throw up tensions, but we have to confront that if we’re going to make a real difference.

“We’re not saying this is the end of road construction in Wales, but the panel of experts that I have announced today will ensure that this is no longer the default response to a transport problem.

“Instead money saved by not building new roads will be used to improve existing infrastructure, helping to create new bus and cycle lanes that give people a meaningful alternative choice for travel.”

Panel chair Dr Sloman said: “The climate emergency makes it imperative that we avoid any investment that increases carbon emissions, especially in the next 15 years when most cars on the road will still be petrol and diesel vehicles.

“But we also need to understand the problems that road schemes have been designed to address and consider how those problems can be tackled without increasing carbon.”

The panel will provide its final report next summer.