Consultation launches for River Dee bridge replacement

Poor structural conditions mean that the current bridge linking North Wales and the North West has a limited lifespan. With 68,400 vehicles utilising the bridge a day, building a new one will be mandatory.

The Welsh government has accordingly started a consultation exercise today to determine what should be done next . Doing nothing is not an option, the authority said. Nor is not replacing the A494 River Dee bridge.

The government’s preferred option is to construct a new bridge upstream, allowing the current bridge to operate during the construction phase. This new bridge would have two lanes for eastbound and westbound traffic, as well as a shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians.

As part of the project, the government would also improve the A494 where it passes under the North Wales Coast Railway Line, introducing a hard shoulder, making alignment improvements, and installing sustainable drainage systems.

The government would also create a new access and exit from the A494 towards the riverside area and add nearly two miles of active travel paths to link the bridge to the Wales Coast Path and the National Cycle Network Route 568 – as well as Queensferry and Garden City.

Other options up for consultation include replacing the current bridge with two other bridges or building a new bridge upstream but repurposing the existing one for non-motorists.

Ken Skates, the Welsh government’s cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales, said: “Fixing our roads is a priority for this government, and the replacement of the Dee Bridge crossing is a key scheme which we are taking forward.”

“It is a vital gateway to North Wales, and is key for cross-border traffic,” he added. “The current structure is ageing and sporadic closures for repairs and monitoring cause disruption and will be detrimental in the long term as more work will need to be done.

“A replacement is therefore required. Everyone now has the opportunity to have their say on the possible options.”

The Welsh government hopes to submit an outline business case for the chosen replacement method in May, with work starting on the scheme in the winter of 2027. If these deadlines can be achieved, construction could complete in summer 2029.

The public and stakeholders are invited to weigh in on the proposals until 4 March 2025 by submitting their feedback at gov.wales/a494-river-dee-bridge-replacement-scheme.