Wales Cancels Major Road Building Projects

The Welsh government has halted all plans to build more roads in the country, citing environmental concerns, reports Teleri Glyn Jones for BBC. 

According to Jones, “The deputy minister insisted new roads would be built in future, but said the government was ‘raising the bar’ to ensure any new road was ‘the right response to transport problems.’”

“The Welsh government said all future roads must pass strict criteria which means they must not increase carbon emissions, they must not increase the number of cars on the road, they must not lead to higher speeds and higher emissions, and they must not negatively impact the environment.” The article details the planned projects, all small-scale, that will go forward if they meet the new rules.

Some local officials are worried that the moratorium will endanger local infrastructure and public transit. Environmental advocates call the move “world-leading and brave,” but call for more investment in public transit and other modes. Otherwise, transit-dependent residents could suffer from reduced mobility. According to one Welsh politician, “a pause in road building without more guaranteed investment in public transport could mean longer journeys, increased travel costs and reduced access to important services.”