The Welsh Government has been urged to consider proposals to create a motorway linking north and south Wales, but people in Wales fear it will "destroy our beautiful countryside". At present, going from one end to the other of Wales takes more than four hours by car.
Motorists wanting to make the journey face the option of a stop-start journey on country roads - or driving eastward into England and using the M5. However, the Tories reckon Mark Drakeford's administration should give some serious thought about constructing a motorway from north to south - despite the huge costs to build it and the environmental impact.
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders said that she was open to different options about the route - including along the border or down the centre of the country on a similar route to the A470. She said: “With the ridiculously poor and unreliable quality of rail services connecting Aberconwy to south Wales, and the Welsh Government having abolished the air link, the reality for my constituents and many across rural Wales, is that private cars are the most sustainable and feasible form of transport."
Mrs Finch-Saunders wrote to the Welsh Government about the plan. However, she was told by deputy minister for climate change Lee Waters that a north-south motorway is not on the cards and the government aims to get more people off the roads and onto public transport.
And it seems idea isn't a hit with the majority of WalesOnline readers, either. Of the more than 2,500 comments left on Facebook under a post about the proposals, many feared such a motorway would ruin the rural scenery.
Steven John wrote: "The healthcare system is falling apart and they want to build more roads and destroy the beautiful countryside." Simon George said: "Hell no! Whilst I admit that the infrastructure is lacking, the last thing Wales needs is a dirty great road carving up through the middle. It’s not that much effort to go around, or even go cross country through the middle."
Ashley Crimmins commented: "I'm pretty sure as a nation divided by beautiful mountains and scenery, we can and have managed to travel north to south for many years without destroying god's country. Improve the existing links between us and leave our countryside the f**k alone."
Meanwhile Chris Green said drivers could use the M5, adding: "Why destroy miles of beautiful countryside to put in another road which is unnecessary?" Alison Beardmore thought the "beautiful scenery and coastal roads" added to the experience driving across the country. She said: "It's OK as it is, no need. It's a lovely adventure travelling on non motorway type roads. We always look forward to getting off dual carriageways and motorways."
Andrew EJ said: "It would be nice to see improvements to the A470 to make North to South Wales commute quicker and straighter but don't think a motor way is needed the full length" Others who were against the plans felt investing in public transport, such as a better railway line, between the north and south would be a better option.
What do you think? Have your say in the comments below
Marilyn Jones wrote: "NNOOOOOO! The motorways should stop where they end now. Wales remains unspoilt and unpolluted and no need to change. All we need is a railway south to north via Aberystwyth," while Guy Martin Smith said: "No thanks...reinstate the railway line between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth"
Peter Gillard added: "A high speed rail line would be a lot easier, more practical and far more environmentally friendly, almost completely underground, could get tunnel boring machines working within 6 months."
David Collyer said: "More roads including the M4 relief road is the last thing this country needs. More roads always equals more traffic. Build a four lane motorway, soon you’ll need five lanes. We need to keep on investing in better public transport links."
But there were some who welcomed the idea. "That should be done definitely. my in-laws live in north wales and I live in the south be so much easier to go back and for to see them," said Anthony Thomas, while Meinir Ann Thomas wrote: "This needs to happen! I’ve been saying this for years! It would have made my journey between Carmarthen and Bangor every weekend much easier as a student!"
Emma Metcalf felt Wales was still stuck in the "dark ages" and could do with "improving infrastructure and encouraging trade". She wrote: "It's nothing to do with Tories it's the only country that you can't get around easily, it's holding so many things back," adding: "You'll never help somewhere that won't help itself."
John Harris echoed her view, writing: "Infrastructure is woefully bad, industry and employers are not tempted to locate here because of the appalling traffic and transit times and Wales is left behind, the only modern roads have been upgraded on EU funding. If there is money given then take it, or are you worried that an influx of modern tech, white collar, services industries would threaten the political demographic?"
Angela Vaughan Parry said her late husband, an engineer, felt the lack of good road links between the north and south "kept Wales divided in social and cultural, as well as economic, terms." She said: "My late husband, a Cymro Cymraeg, a great patriot and Not A Tory, was a consulting engineer who managed projects all over Wales. He constantly bemoaned the lack of good road links between north and south Wales and he regretted the fact that, as a consequence, N. Wales looked more towards NW England for its major infrastructural links."
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