£16m of Resilient Roads Fund to Welsh local authorities

Ken Skates has announced that over £16 million in transport grants will support 18 schemes across Wales to improve roads.

The Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales announced that, in total, 21 applications were received from 13 local authorities for the funding, with the £16.9 million set to be spent on schemes to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, including addressing disruptions caused on the highway network by the severe weather.

Nearly £5 million of the funding will be spent on repairing the damage caused by storms at the start of this year.

Skates said: “This fund will help local authorities pay for much needed work. This includes over £6 million to construct a further section of the Old Colwyn coastal defence scheme, which will protect the highway and active travel route from adverse weather. We are investing £2.5 million in Mid and South West Wales, including £400,000 to develop a long-term sustainable solution in Pembrokeshire to the A487 at Newgale. Over £4.9 million will be spent on work to repair and future-proof key transport routes across Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf where local communities were particularly affected by the storms earlier this year.

“The grants are a substantial investment to support long-term sustainable economic growth and recovery from the effects of the storms, enhance public transport facilities, and improve routes that will encourage more people in Wales to walk and cycle.”