New route of £56 million Newtown bypass goes on display
Plans showing the new route of the £56 million Newtown bypass went on show to the public for the first time today.
The exhibition was being held at the Elephant and Castle Hotel in Broad Street, Newtown.
Residents and businesses in and around Newtown had been urged to attend the event where the preferred plans for the route of the town's long awaited bypass will be displayed.
Russell George, Montgomeryshire AM, said the event was a great chance to quiz Welsh Assembly officials and speak to the contractors Alun Griffiths Ltd.
Mr George said: "The Newtown bypass is an important development for residents, businesses and visitors and this is a crucial exhibition, providing an opportunity to see the Welsh Government's preferred route and to discuss the plans with officers and contractors involved.
"Whether you're directly affected by the planned road or just have an interest as a resident or business, this is a vital event.
"The new bypass will help to alleviate the horrendous traffic congestion we have to put up with on a daily basis.
"But it will also bring new opportunities for businesses and visitors, providing economic opportunities for the town and the wider community."
Welsh Government transport minister Edwina Hart announced earlier this month the route of the proposed bypass had been altered, bringing cost savings of about £5 million.
The planned changes will mean there will be an overtaking lane on the entire length of the route.
And the amended route will be further away from the Garth Owen housing estate, reducing the impact on residents.
Work on the long-awaited bypass is on target to start next year, more than 30 years after the idea was first put forward.
The work is due to be completed by 2017 and its initial cost was given as an estimated £56 million.
Motorists currently face daily queues of up to five miles to get into the town along the A483 and A489.
