Installation work for average speed cameras to enforce 50mph zones on the A483 bypass starts today

Work starts today on installing permanent average cameras to enforce the 50mph zone on the bypass.

The 50mph limit is part of a Welsh Government initiative to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide on roads across Wales where emissions have been found to exceed legal limits.

There has been no official communication detailing the works taking place on the main arterial route in Wrexham, however it appears after a period of installation there will be some calibration taking place, with some limited information being released via roadwork alert data. We have seen some text heavy yellow signs on entrance slips on the bypass stating what appeared to be overnight closures, but no detail to the works given.

Last month local AM Lesley Griffiths explained there would be enhanced communication on the issue, to make the public aware of why the 50mph limit was brought in, and why it is permanent.

Previously Minister for Environment Hannah Blythyn said: “I am committed to taking action to reduce air pollution in Wales to support a healthier future for our communities and protect our natural environment. Current levels of nitrogen dioxide exceed the legal limit at the five road locations, so we need to act as soon as possible.

“Our initial studies tell us that 50mph speed limits should have the greatest potential to improve air quality at each location. The actions we take to improve air quality in Wales have a key role in supporting the right conditions for better health and well-being.”

No detail has been published on costs or equipment, however last year when we wrote about the options being considered the cameras were priced at £275,000 and included average speed enforcement cameras, equipment, traffic signs and ongoing maintenance. Data collection of numberplates to inform government policy was also mooted, but as is a common theme with the works, there has been silence over if that is going to happen.

The information on the works connected to such ‘permanent cameras’ surfaced in an automated 12 page traffic works bulletin, with limited information as below:

It appears works will start today with a lane closure ‘for Operational Teams’ for work from 8pm to 6am tomorrow morning connected to ’50mph camera works’ on the Junction 5 Northbound on-slip – or commonly known as the B&Q roundabout.

The works continue overnight 7pm-6am on the 30th to 31st, with another lane closure for similar works, this time on both ‘between Junction 6 and Junction 5 – Southbound Carriageway’ and the northbound slip of Junction 6. Junction 6 being the Gresford roundabout.

It appears work could continue into August, with a ‘road closure’ in place overnight from 8pm to 6am between the B&Q and Gresford roundabout, but that is labelled ‘advanced planning’ rather than confirmed works. If the information turns out to be final, there will be a diversion with traffic diverted to J7 and back to J6 southbound.

More work is pencilled in for overnight 5th through 6th of August and 6th through 7th connected to the work on cameras however appears to be for the Ruthin Road junction to B&Q junction stretch of the bypass. Overnight work for the 12th and 13th of August is also referred to for the same stretch of road. Again detail is lacking, with it noted as being ‘advanced planning’.

No detail has been published by Wrexham Council, who have been critical previously on the lack of communication over works on the A483 by Welsh Government.

In April we reported how the speed limit was due to be made permanent, explaining how a obscure public notice had given the detail, yet the new Welsh Government website meant following the instructions to get more detail was a fruitless exercise.

As we have documented many times before, Welsh Government spend huge amounts of money on Statutory / Public Notices to communicate information to you however that often takes place via expensive adverts buried in the back of newspapers with dwindling circulations. We don’t know if this has appeared in the Daily Post or Leader as we have not read them this week, but for such big local news we would assume they would have run stories on it if that was the case – but as we noted here even they often don’t read the notices they print.

When the speed limit first came into place just over a year ago, similar communication issues were noted.

This article is unpaid, and unprompted from Welsh Government.

Top pic: how the cameras could look.