P-05-886 Stop the Red Route (A55/A494 corridor), Correspondence – Iceland (at Deeside Industrial Park) to Committee, 11.11.19

The General Importance of the Scheme

It has long been regarded that congestion of the existing A494/A55 route is intolerable. It has also been noted that congestion reaches its peak during the summer, particularly on bank holiday weekends reducing valuable income to the whole North Wales area.

It is a fundamental necessity that additional capacity is provided through the Deeside area. It is also a fundamental requirement to improve access to Deeside Industrial Park and widen the catchment area for the workforce required to support the businesses within the Deeside Industrial Park.

The single route from the M56 to the A55 corridor has all to frequently become impassable due to accidents or breakdowns. An alternative to the existing which could be used in such an event is the obvious solution.

Issues raised by the Petition

(1) The alternative (Blue) Route is through a heavily populated area of housing. It cannot be right to increase traffic flow through such an area whereas the Red Route has a very limited number of houses along the whole route. The Blue Route is already subject to speed limitations to improve air quality which would only be made worse by increased traffic flow.

(2) This is incorrect. The existing bridge on the A494 needs to be replaced as it has reached the end of its serviceable life.

(3) As already stated the replacement of the existing bridge is not conditional on either the Red or Blue Route. I fundamentally disagree with the point regarding increased congestion on the hill out of Northop towards Holywell. The Red Route clearly shows increased numbers of lanes and capacity. The reference to the cost related to the A494 improvement is incorrect as explained previously.

(4) Congestion at its worst is when traffic joins the A494 before Deeside Industrial Park and continues through to the proposed Northop junction. I do not understand how the survey can be under-represented.

(5) I fundamentally disagree with this comment.

(6) The best way to reduce C02 emissions is to reduce congestion and standing traffic. The additional route as provided by the Red Route option will achieve that aim.