DEPUTY First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones hailed the £35m Porthmadog bypass project during a visit to the site today (Thursday March 31).
Mr Jones, the Wales Minister for the Economy and Transport, said following a tour of the route that work on the long-awaited road was progressing at an impressive rate.
The Tremadog, Porthmadog and Minffordd bypass is one of the largest construction projects currently under way in Wales and will be 5.3km long when complete.
It is being built for the Welsh Assembly Government by a joint venture partnership of Balfour Beatty and Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK.
The new section of the A487 carriageway will improve journey times, ease congestion and significantly improve environmental conditions by enabling current through traffic to bypass Porthmadog and the two villages.
Mr Jones said: “I am extremely pleased to be here today to see first hand just how much has been achieved so far.
“While local residents will be eagerly awaiting news of its completion, I am sure they will be extremely happy with this impressive scheme and will welcome the reduced levels of congestion as well as carbon emissions.
“This bypass will be good news for the local economy and the regeneration of the wider area – it is another example of our commitment to improving transport links in every part of Wales.”
During his visit, the Deputy First Minister was given a tour of the bypass route by partnership project manager Wyn Daniels and partnership deputy project manager Hefin Lloyd-Davies.