THE WELSH Government’s Minister for Transport, Edwina Hart AM, has come under renewed pressure to explain why the speed restriction on the A48 bridge at Chepstow is to be retained at 50mph.

Chepstow Town Council and local residents have campaigned for more than two years to lower the speed limit from 50mph to 30mph on the bridge, citing the dangers pupils face walking to Wyedean School alongside the busy road.

Edwina Hart’s decision comes after a Trunk Road Safety Review by Traffic Wales recommended the speed limit on the bridge to remain at 50mph, and for other work to be undertaken to improve road safety. A night-time installation of a guardrail along the footway on the bridge was estimated to be completed by last Sunday (15th November), but is still ongoing.

A spokesperson for the Welsh Government has estimated that the work will be going on into the new year.

Residents have complained about the traffic caused by the temporary traffic lights on the bridge, which is made worse by the continued closure of the Old Wye Bridge.

There have been renewed calls for Edwina Hart to explain in detail why the speed limit is to maintained.

Monmouth Assembly Member Nick Ramsay said: “While the installation of a guardrail on the footway across the bridge has been welcomed by local residents, there is a strong feeling that further safety measures such as a 30mph speed limit and crash barriers are urgently needed.

“Town councillors have pointed out that the A48 bridge at Chepstow is the narrowest point on the A48 between Gloucester and Cardiff and it simply isn’t safe to allow vehicles to approach and pass each other at closing speeds of 80mph to 100mph on such a narrow unprotected bridge, let alone have pedestrians within a metre of them.

“I fully support the town council’s call for a more detailed explanation of the arguments against a 30mph speed retraction and for a new and open review of both traffic and pedestrian safety. Let us not wait for a serious accident to occur in order to provide the appropriate collision statistics. Action needs to be taken now.”