Major £30m road transformations earmarked for Newgale
Major road transformations are earmarked for the A487 through Newgale, with a £30m scheme to move the road inland, bypassing the most vulnerable sections near the coastline.
This section of coast road has been subjected to considerable storm damage; in 2014 sections of the A487 were flooded while debris from the beach's shingle bank made the road impassable. It regularly has to be cleared of shingle and pebbles, which is proving costly and disruptive to traffic. Rising sea levels are also likely to exacerbate the problem, with projections stating the sea levels may rise by as much as 1.35 metres over the next 100 years.
The coastline at Newgale is also eroding as a result of natural processes and climate change. The shingle bank that once provided minimal protection is becoming increasingly unstable, with the beach narrowing and becoming steeper.
The £30m scheme includes the realignment of the A487 by moving the road inland, by-passing the most vulnerable sections near the coastline.
"Simply defending the current road is not an option," commented a spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council. "Adaptation is our best strategy to manage long-term changes as climate change isn't something we can wish away and we must respond proactively to protect both the community and the strategic infrastructure that is vital for the region."
The Newgale Coastal Adaptation Scheme has undergone several phases of development since it was established following the 2014 storm. Pembrokeshire County Council, working with infrastructure experts Atkins, has conducted extensive environmental impact assessments and consultations to determine the most viable solution. The Welsh Government's Roads Reviews, published earlier this year, gave its backing to the plan, allowing the project to proceed under the Welsh Government's Resilient Fund.
In addition to the realignment of the road, the scheme also includes a comprehensive plan to mitigate environmental impacts, ensuring the biodiversity of the region is preserved, while carbon emissions from its construction are minimised.
Pembrokeshire County Council is now working to finalise plans and move forward towards a planning application. Once the finer details are ironed out, funding securement will commence, leading to a public inquiry. Meanwhile environmental surveys, traffic impact assessments and further consultation with local landowners and businesses are ongoing.
Major £30m road transformations earmarked for Newgale
Major road transformations are earmarked for the A487 through Newgale, with a £30m scheme to move the road inland, bypassing the most vulnerable sections near the coastline.
This section of coast road has been subjected to considerable storm damage; in 2014 sections of the A487 were flooded while debris from the beach's shingle bank made the road impassable. It regularly has to be cleared of shingle and pebbles, which is proving costly and disruptive to traffic. Rising sea levels are also likely to exacerbate the problem, with projections stating the sea levels may rise by as much as 1.35 metres over the next 100 years.
The coastline at Newgale is also eroding as a result of natural processes and climate change. The shingle bank that once provided minimal protection is becoming increasingly unstable, with the beach narrowing and becoming steeper.
The £30m scheme includes the realignment of the A487 by moving the road inland, by-passing the most vulnerable sections near the coastline.
"Simply defending the current road is not an option," commented a spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council. "Adaptation is our best strategy to manage long-term changes as climate change isn't something we can wish away and we must respond proactively to protect both the community and the strategic infrastructure that is vital for the region."
The Newgale Coastal Adaptation Scheme has undergone several phases of development since it was established following the 2014 storm. Pembrokeshire County Council, working with infrastructure experts Atkins, has conducted extensive environmental impact assessments and consultations to determine the most viable solution. The Welsh Government's Roads Reviews, published earlier this year, gave its backing to the plan, allowing the project to proceed under the Welsh Government's Resilient Fund.
In addition to the realignment of the road, the scheme also includes a comprehensive plan to mitigate environmental impacts, ensuring the biodiversity of the region is preserved, while carbon emissions from its construction are minimised.
Pembrokeshire County Council is now working to finalise plans and move forward towards a planning application. Once the finer details are ironed out, funding securement will commence, leading to a public inquiry. Meanwhile environmental surveys, traffic impact assessments and further consultation with local landowners and businesses are ongoing.