Dangerous junctions along the A477 and A40 have been raised with the Cabinet Secertary for Transport by local Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz.
The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Members raised the junction at Red Roses along the A477, which requires traffic to slow down significantly to make a sharp 90-degree turn due to the absence of a slip road. A similar junction is currently being built on the new A40 Redstone Cross bypass, which is yet to fully open.
This is not the first time Samuel Kurtz has highlighted road safety concerns to the Welsh Government. He previously campaigned vigorously for improvements at the Nash Fingerpost junction following multiple accidents, leading to the installation of a smart traffic light system.
Speaking outside the Senedd Chamber, Samuel said:
“Road safety is an important concern for everyone that travels on the A477 and the A40. Common sense dictates that the layout of the junctions, while abiding by current regulations, are clearly not safe.
“With the tourist season fast approaching, many more people will be travelling westward with no knowledge of the road layout, and will not be prepared for cars in front of them to be breaking on such fast roads.
“The Welsh Government need to take a closer look at these junctions, and at the current regulations, so dangerous junctions such as these can be made safe, and future junctions are built safe in the first place.”
The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Members raised the junction at Red Roses along the A477, which requires traffic to slow down significantly to make a sharp 90-degree turn due to the absence of a slip road. A similar junction is currently being built on the new A40 Redstone Cross bypass, which is yet to fully open.
This is not the first time Samuel Kurtz has highlighted road safety concerns to the Welsh Government. He previously campaigned vigorously for improvements at the Nash Fingerpost junction following multiple accidents, leading to the installation of a smart traffic light system.
Speaking outside the Senedd Chamber, Samuel said:
“Road safety is an important concern for everyone that travels on the A477 and the A40. Common sense dictates that the layout of the junctions, while abiding by current regulations, are clearly not safe.
“With the tourist season fast approaching, many more people will be travelling westward with no knowledge of the road layout, and will not be prepared for cars in front of them to be breaking on such fast roads.
“The Welsh Government need to take a closer look at these junctions, and at the current regulations, so dangerous junctions such as these can be made safe, and future junctions are built safe in the first place.”
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NewsTranscript
00:00in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire?
00:03Well, across Wales, we're supporting local authorities
00:05to set the right speed limits on the right local roads,
00:07and in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire,
00:10we are improving infrastructure,
00:11funding road safety initiatives,
00:13supporting enforcement,
00:15and ensuring road safety is integrated
00:18into the regional transport plan
00:20to create safer, healthier communities.
00:23Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary.
00:25It can't be understated the success of the improvements
00:27at the Nash Fingerpost Junction
00:29along the A477,
00:31and I thank the Welsh Government for their intervention
00:33in making that junction safe.
00:35But also along the A477 is the junction to Red Roses,
00:39a 90-degree junction on a busy main road
00:42where there's been a number of accidents over the years.
00:45Now, I've written to you about this previously
00:47and met with you.
00:48While this junction itself is compliant with the rules,
00:51common sense dictates that it's not safe.
00:54The same could be said for the new junction
00:56on the Llandewi Velferi redstone cross
00:59bypass, again, another 90-degree junction
01:03with no slip road exit on a busy road.
01:06Could I ask that these two junctions
01:08are looked at in more detail
01:10and that the regulations that are used
01:12to build these junctions is updated?
01:13Because it's clear from common sense
01:15that these junctions aren't safe,
01:16but they continue to be built,
01:18not only in my constituency,
01:19but across Wales as well.
01:21I'd like to thank the Member for his question.
01:22I'm very pleased to hear that the work
01:24at the Nash Fingerpoint Junction has been well received.
01:28The issues that the Member raises
01:30regarding Red Roses and redstone are familiar with me.
01:34I've been in discussion with the Office
01:36of the Mid and West Wales Member,
01:38Eleanor Morgan, over these very concerns.
01:41With regards to Red Roses,
01:44while the A477 Red Roses Junction
01:47was designed to current standards
01:49and compliant at the time of its construction,
01:52driver behaviour is shown to be a major factor
01:56in the evidence collected to date.
01:58So we've added a scheme to the 2025-26 programme
02:02to identify potential short-term safety interventions
02:06at that very junction.
02:07With regards to the Redstone Cross Junction,
02:11this was pushed for inclusion
02:12during Key Stage 2 of the public inquiry,
02:18and all options were reviewed as part of that inquiry.
02:21Now, I do acknowledge that there were safety issues
02:24at the original Redstone Cross Junction
02:26and that there are ongoing concerns,
02:28some of which have been raised in correspondence
02:30by Narberth Town Council.
02:32So the Welsh Government can promise
02:35that a safety audit will be undertaken
02:39prior to the removal of traffic management
02:42and the opening of this scheme,
02:44and this will assess the constructed works
02:47and highlight any road safety issues.
02:49But I have also asked for a comprehensive briefing
02:52on this very matter.
02:54Questions now from the party spokespeople,
02:57Welsh Conservatives spokesperson Peter Fox.