Conservative AMs have criticised Welsh Government over another A465 completion date delay.
A critical section of the Heads of the Valleys Road will be delayed until n late 2020.
Commenting on the announcement that the completion date for widening part of the Heads of the Valleys Road A465 has been pushed back for the second time this year, Russell George AM said, “Another delay means more frustration for residents in the Gilwern-Brynmawr areas, and everyone who uses the route.
“It adds many, many minutes to each day’s commute or school run, holds up business and commerce, and means vehicles are creeping along causing increased air and noise pollution.”
Construction of the route commenced in 2014 and was slated to be complete by the end of this year. In April the Welsh Government said work would run “into 2020”, costing an extra £54 million, bringing the project to £324m.
During First Minister’s Questions today Paul Davis AM, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, described the £54m overspend as “eyewatering”, and the Welsh Labour Government as “failing Wales”.
Earlier today, the Welsh Government said it was “…reviewing the project with a view to complete it at the end of 2020”.
Mr George, whose portfolio as Shadow Minster for Business, Economy, and Infrastructure includes the construction and maintenance of roads, added, “This is more evidence that the Labour-run Welsh Government is incapable of making a coherent road infrastructure policy and adhering to it.
“Adding another year – one-fifth of the planned construction time – with just a month to the rescheduled completion date shows that the Welsh Labour Government has no grasp of planning, overseeing major projects, or managing budgets.
“Any delay could mean further costs to the taxpayer of millions of pounds, despite the claim that it will add no more to the overall budget.
Mr George went on, “By any measure, this is a failing project by a failing Welsh Labour administration. It calls into serious question the competency of Ken Skates AM, the Minister for Economy and Transport, who seemingly cannot administer the economy or transport.
“Welsh Conservatives in the Assembly are calling for an explanation of the delays and a forecast of how many more millions of pounds this project could cost, as well as a definite and final completion date.”