Major improvements in the resilience and safety of the A55 will be carried out over the next three years as a result of capital investment of £25m by the Welsh Government announced in last year's budget and a further £17m announced in October this year.

The first phase of the works will be carried out this winter beginning in January in the Penmaenbach tunnel. The first months of the year are the quietest period on the A55, and major work is carried out then in order to reduce any possible disruption.

During February and March 2014, work will be carried out in the Conwy Tunnels to install fire protection measures and a public address system. These measures will improve the overall safety and resilience of the tunnels, bringing them in line with the European safety standards. A contraflow will operate in the Conwy Tunnels during this time.


In January, one lane in the Penmaenbach Tunnel will also be closed for up to seven days to carry out work to improve safety by introducing a public address system. There will be a lane closure in the tunnel during the day and a full westbound tunnel closure at night. The public address system will allow for quicker evacuation should the need arise and the equipment will have a design life of 25 years.

Transport Minister Edwina Hart said: "Investing in our transport infrastructure is vitally important, and the A55 is a key part of the transport network in North Wales.

"Both the Conwy Tunnels and Penmaenbach Tunnel are feats of engineering but more than 20 years on both need investment to maintain them for the decades to come. This capital investment shows our commitment in maintaining and improving the resilience and safety on this key route."

(CD/JP)