Transport Minister, Carl Sargeant, has unveiled a plaque to officially open the £6.1m Four Crosses bypass on the A483 near Welshpool.
The new route – which was build by Alun Griffiths Contractors Ltd on behalf of the Welsh Government – will significantly reduce congestion through the village of Four Crosses.
Prior to the new bypass being completed the A483 – which provides a vital corridor to and from Mid Wales – ran through the centre of Fourcrosses resulting in cars and heavy goods vehicles having to pass through the heart of a community.
Speaking before the unveiling Carl Sargeant said:
“This new bypass at Four Crosses, which was delivered on budget and within timescale, will make the village far safer as thousands of cars and lorries will no longer need to travel through the centre of the village as they follow the A483.”
“The A483 plays a vital role in linking communities located on either side of Offa’s Dyke as well as providing a main artery for tourism and other industries in Mid Wales and this bypass will further improve that link.”
The 1,400 metre long, single carriageway bypass runs to the west of Four Crosses and has an underpass enabling local residents to safely cross the busy trunk road.
Following a community consultation led by Arts Connection – Cyswllt Celf the local school and community developed artwork for the newly constructed underpass.
Lead artist, Ingrid Maugham, said:
“I was delighted to work on this project and am enjoying seeing how it is unfolding from my initial design ideas. These were based on contributions from the community and the school children who also provided drawings and have each contributed a piece to the mural.
“ We hope that everyone will enjoy our mural and that it will raise a smile!”
Councillor Geraint Hopkins, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulation, said:
“We are delighted that the scheme was delivered on time and on budget. It offers significant benefits to both road users and the local community who now have heavy goods traffic diverted away from the centre of the village.”
During its construction Roman, Bronze and Iron Age remains were unearthed at the site of the new bypass.
