Works begin to build high-quality active travel infrastructure in Dafen

Carmarthenshire County Council has begun work to enhance the active travel route and crossing point along Exchange Row and the B4303 in Dafen, Llanelli.

Locally, the works will make it safer to cross the B4303 whilst also providing improved onward connections as part of the proposed Llanelli Spinal route.  The route seeks to provide a high-quality pedestrian and cycling path for commuters and schoolchildren with links to employment sites, hospitals, and local schools.  Eventually the route will run between Hendy and the Millenium Coastal path with ties to the ongoing Pentre Awel development.

The scheme is being funded by the Welsh Government through their Active Travel Fund and has been secured by Carmarthenshire County Council, via a national competitive bidding process.  The funding can only be utilised for the purposes of new/enhanced Active Travel infrastructure. The design, comprising of Exchange Row and the B4303, is in line with the principles of Llwybr Newydd – The Wales Transport Strategy 2021.

During the construction, there will be a requirement for a partial lane closure to be introduced for 5 days, from Sunday, 21 January, to Thursday, 26 January. During this period there will be a one-way system for road users, with traffic allowed out to the roundabout but not in. The Council will be making all efforts to minimise disruption throughout the construction period.

As part of the scheme, the pedestrian crossing at Exchange Row Road, which leads to the roundabout, will be upgraded. This crossing is particularly important as it is well used by pupils attending the local schools and will also help to alleviate road safety concerns in the area.

Construction of the new path has already commenced. In addition to the requirement for a partial lane closure for 5 days from Sunday, 21 January, a full road closure is planned from Saturday, 23 March, for a minimum of 1 week to coincide with the Easter Holiday period to allow for surfacing and kerbing.

A timeline of the scheme is as follows:

• 08/01/24 – Works commencement – Creation of compound on site.
• 21/01/24 – One-way traffic system (with a partial lane closure) to be introduced for 5 days. Sunday to Thursday.  Traffic will be allowed out from Exchange Row onto the roundabout, but not in.
• 23/03/24 – Full closure to be introduced, for a minimum of 1 week, to coincide with the Easter Holiday period.  The length of the closure will be minimised as much as possible.  This is to allow for surfacing and kerbing.
• Reinstatement is likely to continue until the end of March/early April 2024.  During this time the route will be fully reopened to traffic.

The construction of the active travel corridor falls within Carmarthenshire County Council’s Third Well-being Objective, which is to enable its communities and environment to be healthy, safe and prosperous.

Cllr Edward Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services said:

I would like to thank the residents, schools and businesses of Dafen, along with all users of this key route within our road network for your patience whilst we carry out this important work. We will be making all efforts to minimise disruption throughout the construction period.

Once completed, this active travel corridor along Exchange Row Road and the B4303 will provide a first class and safe route for pedestrians and cyclists to and from the local amenities and serve the county’s wider active travel network.”