The exhibition will be held in early October and the project’s objection period is due to close on 18 October.

The aim is for construction to start in autumn 2018, with the project opening in summer 2020. Alun Griffiths (Contracting) is already working on the scheme under an early contractor involvement contract.

The Pont-ar-Ddyfi was not designed to carry the current volume of traffic and so is a pinch point on the A487. The road is also often closed due to frequent flooding causing traffic to take a diversion of up to 30 miles. The existing bridge is Grade II* listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument so there are restrictions in what alterations can be made.

Dyfi Bridge

Studies have been undertaken that have considered improvements to the existing road as well as the option of constructing a new road and bridge off the line of the existing road. However, if the Pont-ar-Ddyfi were to remain part of the A487 it would need to be strengthened and widened, which would significantly change the historic bridge and cause major disruptions during the works.

The conclusion was that a new road crossing the river upstream of the existing bridge was a better solution. The new stretch of road would become the A487, with the existing road north of the bridge becoming the A493.