en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 28th, The Welsh Government has recently decided not to hold a public inquiry into the A494 River Dee Bridge replacement project at Queensferry, clearing the way for construction to begin as early as winter 2026/27. It is reported that Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, confirmed this decision. This follows a statutory consultation on the draft orders, which generated five formal objections, three of which were subsequently withdrawn. The remaining two objections were related to Compulsory Purchase Orders and concerned only compensation matters, not the scheme itself. This bridge construction project can now proceed with minor modifications.

The bridge currently carries approximately 70,000 vehicles daily between Queensferry and Garden City, connecting North Wales with Northwest England and beyond. Inspections have revealed that the existing deck structure is in poor condition, with increasing frequency of repairs and risk of major interventions year by year. The new bridge construction will be located about 15 meters southeast of the existing crossing, towards Chester, and will feature dual two-lane carriageways, each with a hard shoulder. A shared path for pedestrians and cyclists will run alongside the westbound carriageway, connecting to the Wales Coast Path and National Cycle Route 568.

Mr. Skates stated: "The A494 River Dee Bridge provides a vital cross-border link for North Wales, Northwest England and beyond, connecting people, communities, and businesses. The need for a new bridge stems from the poor condition of the existing deck structure, necessitating its replacement." Most of the construction work for this bridge project is planned to take place away from the existing bridge, allowing the A494 to remain open for the majority of the project duration. The advancement of this bridge construction will effectively ensure the long-term safe operation of this critical cross-border route.