PLANS for the suggested third lane on the A40 in Monmouth have taken a further step forward, with a study into the work’s plausibility being completed.

Last month, the Wye Bridge was closed overnight to enable contractors to look at the first and second arches of the bridge. In a meeting with the Central Monmouth Area Committee last Wednesday (27th January), traffic and network manager at Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) clarified that the survey was to look at the strength of the arch since this will need to support additional loading as part of the design.

MCC, in partnership with Welsh Government, commissioned consulting engineers to develop an improvement scheme at the A40 Wye Bridge junction Monmouth in September, with the main features being the design of a third traffic lane on the immediate approach to the signals from Dixton Roundabout. This lane would be dedicated for traffic turning left onto Wye Bridge.

The plans also incorporate improved pedestrian ramps to the underpass.

However, the plans are not without opposition. The A40 Group in particular, propose an alternative to the A40’s route altogether.

According to criticism of the plans published last year, the A40 Group suggested that there is “no convincing evidence” that the third lane would improve traffic capacity at the junction, and suggest that the cost of the work would be better spent in planning a Monmouth bypass.

Now that a feasibility study has been completed, Monmouthshire County Council plan to draw up a final plan before approaching the Welsh Government for funding. The Welsh Government are supporting the scheme through the Transport Grant scheme of funding.

If this is successful, it has been suggested that the work could be started next year.