A PUBLIC exhibition took place this week featuring the proposed plans for the A40/A466 Wyebridge junction.

The exhibition, held at the Shire Hall on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th July, displayed measures to reduce traffic congestion and minimise delays as well as improvements to pedestrian access.

Representatives from Monmouthshire County Council (MCC), Welsh Government and consulting engineers WSP were present to talk and listen to the public about the proposals.

Proposed by the Welsh Assembly and MCC, the new 170-metre carriageway will be used as a dedicated lane for turning left over the bridge.

The third lane would be incorporated into the existing A40 between Dixton roundabout and the Wye bridge, with the lane beginning after the underpass which provides access to Monmouth Rowing Club.

There are also proposed alterations to the pedestrian subway and footpath ramps.

On the river side, the ramp out of the subway will curve around, eliminating the current 90 degree exit which, it is hoped, will improve safety for pedestrians.

There will also be a footpath linking the subway to an existing path which runs parallel to the river towards the rowing club.

A concrete splay will link the subway and the bridge, although there is an alternative plan which could see a ‘sympathetically-designed’ footbridge to link the two paths.

On the bridge itself, the existing traffic signals will be replaced and moved further back, with the stop line adjusted to allow lorries and other large vehicles to turn without crossing into the middle lane on the A40.

The upstream footpath will also be widened, while the downstream footpath will be narrowed.

The project received £260,000 for improvements to the junction under the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund grant in April, after Welsh Government funding of £387,000 was granted for the next stage of the project last March, along with a grant of £90,000 received in 2015. It is expected that a total of £1.3 million will be needed for the project.