Work to reduce “horrendous” traffic congestion and improve safety on a main road in Llanelli is expected to start this summer.
The A484 Sandy Road links the town to Burry Port to the west and regularly gets clogged up, particularly the westbound carriageway.
Carmarthenshire Council published proposals last month to introduce a dedicated right-turn lane at the traffic light junction with Maes Y Coed, plus a new advanced stop line for cyclists and a controlled crossing on Maes Y Coed. It’s hoped the traffic will flow more freely, in turn improving air quality.
The council has just found out it’s been awarded £574,000 for this scheme by the Welsh Government, along with around £7.5 million for other transport-related projects in 2025-26.
Cllr Edward Thomas, cabinet member for transport, waste and infrastructure services, said feedback from a public consultation about the Sandy Road corridor plan would inform a final report being published in the coming weeks. A programme will also be drawn up for the work itself which, said Cllr Thomas, “we expect to coincide with the school summer holidays to minimise disruption.”
Cllrs Martyn Palfreman and Edward Skinner, who represent Llanelli’s Hengoed ward, welcomed the funding.
“We have worked tirelessly over the past three years with the council and its agents to secure resources for much-needed improvements along this stretch of Sandy Road,” said Cllr Palfreman. “We also lobbied the Welsh Government to provide funding for the agreed scheme, which will help alleviate the horrendous congestion experienced by residents and so many others in the Llanelli area on a daily basis.”
Cllr Skinner thanked residents for their input. “We have listened to specific concerns, notably loss of some parking along Sandy Road and are working with transport officers to mitigate this by providing alternative spaces nearby,” he said. “We also know that the agreed scheme is unlikely to solve all the current problems and we will continue to push for further improvements along the A484 corridor.”
Sandy Road resident Ray Jones, speaking in 2023, said: “In the daytime the traffic here is horrendous. There are two main roads coming out onto this stretch of Sandy Road and that adds to the traffic, because people are so fed up of being bumper to bumper all the time that they don’t let other people out.”
Concerns have also been expressed about drivers speeding on the road in the evenings and at night, along with calls for more enforcement.
Meanwhile, the council has received £2.05 million for a new interchange on land south of Llanelli railway station. Buses, coaches and taxis would move freely through it on a one-way system. Cars would enter from Copperworks Road and exit onto Station Road. Access for cyclists and walkers would be via Station Road, Copperworks Road, and Great Western Terrace.
The £2.05 million will fund the remaining detailed design and land acquisition requirements and the construction of the interchange. A planning application is due to be submitted to the council in the second quarter of this year.
The Welsh Government also awarded the authority £1.14 million for a replacement Black Bridge – between Pen-y-fan and Morfa in Llanelli – for cyclists and walkers.
In addition there was £1.5 million for road drainage improvements, £732,000 to design future cycling and walking routes, £712,305 for a safe routes in the communities scheme in Five Roads, £450,000 related to the 20mph default speed limit, £247,500 for new electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and various smaller-scale grants.
Ministers awarded Wales’s 22 councils £110 million for these transport schemes for 2025-26. Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said: “These improvements will make real differences to everyday journeys – whether that’s safer routes, better paths for walking, wheeling and cycling, or more reliable bus services.”
More money being wasted with no improvements similar to the work at junction 48 of the M4.
Andrew Gough Where I lived in London by Grove Park Downham. There was never a problem until the Council changed the signalling of the traffic lights. There become major traffic jams. But to add insult to injury they would not change it back again
No
Seems like a lot of money for little gain. Why not stop the right turns? The right hand lane is supposed to have room for 6 cars so this is not a good representation. I also understand part of people’s front gardens have to be purchased to accommodate it. Half a million pounds? Could be better spent if you ask me. How about tackling the potholes instead?
Who’s the idiot that thinks that will work ? Same amount
of traffic and same road with a bit of paint added .we are in the hands of fools .
David Daniels carmarthen planers messing up again for that to work they need to take atleast a foot of the pavements either side away and double yellow lines both sides witch the residents won’t be happy about
Colin Probert “residents won’t be happy about”- they’d be even less happy if the council knocked the houses down! Not a lot one can do on this stretch. The painting will make a difference, how much only time will tell. Narrowing pavements would be waste of huge sum of money.
Lyn Thomas i agree with you it’s a nightmare
It’s self explanatory 2cars turning right that’s sat in the box , another 6 indicating right but can’t fit in the box , what happens then ? Tail backs , waste of money
Carl Spanner Man exactly
Without doubt it’s a waste of time and money
£574,000 to paint the road … ???
Just get rid of the lights and make a mini roundabout like the one 100yrds up the road
Mark Pendlebury noooooo, that’s too common sense. 🤦♀️
I don’t understand how this is going to work! .are they removing the residents parking from in front of thier houses. If so where are they to park.and how on earth is it costing so much money to paint several lines. Better to stop the right turns and traffic to go up denham Ave as there is already a round about there to turn up.
Hayley Rees Living in Denham Avenue & certainly don’t want any more traffic, it’s busy enough as it is.
Hayley Rees no they are not going to remove the parking
What they have planned should work if the study they did on the area is right
Martin Hutchinson yes if they have worked it out right! . We will just have to wait and see then.
Hayley Rees I did go to the meeting and one person that was very good did explain this was the only real option there was
Whoever came up with this has zero common sense and either never uses the road or does not live in the area to see the problems. The only real solution as people have pointed out is the Denham avenue access. The people can keep their parking on the street as well .
Make no difference at all
Why spend tax payers money, just listen to the public, JUST GET RID OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS , Job done
Waste of money and won’t work
Just move the traffic lights and that stupid mini roundabout . There wasn’t issues like this when it was a straight road . People always let someone out from side roads and basically everything ran smoothly. The more they fiddle with that road the more chaos they cause.
What a waste of money yet again. All that money on a bit of paint what about heol goffa school. I think they need the money more.
Get rid of the traffic lights block off that road send traffic to the mini roundabout
Heidi Jerovshek-evans what a joke
Jean Lynch-pring I know, they haven’t got a clue
Turn the lights off….these idiots obviously dont drive!!!!
I wish these people that made these comments went to the meeting it not just lines there is sensors in the road so if there is 2 cars in the box the lights will change so they can go and then they will go back so the rest can move and then 2 more cars will go in
I don’t know exactly but out of only 20 cars possible only 2 or 4 will turn right
Those house should never of been built with out a proper road net work
Martin Hutchinson true.
Ian Morgans what u reckon 😂
Sarah Harries 🤦♂️
Its won’t make a difference. The problem surely is the housing estate was built with little thought of access.
Martin Kemp exactly!!
Why not open up Stradey Park Avenue for access
It’s simple just remove the lights im sure cars that are coming the opposite way will give way to cars wanting to turn…..
Dean Davies the light have to be there for llegal reasons
Martin Hutchinson the estate they built probably isn’t legal either
Dean Davies as if.
Make an entrance from Stradey park avenue.
Richard Joseph Young the developers were not allowed to put a road through there.
Jean Lewis that was then. Things can change.
Should be No Right Turn – go as far as the roundabout and around. Or turn right in the avenue.
Julian Samuel Agree
There’s a Simple Answer.
Turn off the lights. No right turn. No access onto the road. Simple job done. No need for fancy knickers stuff. The mistake was building houses without consideration. Make it a continual carraigeway from roundabout, to roundabout. Minimal cost, maximum advantage.
All i saw today was three people seemingly surveying one working two hanging about, basically doing nothing but vaping while holding the equipment, very unprofessional. No its not going to change anything. The whole thing is a waste of money and no solution.
Tania I honestly thought they were from the college….they didn’t look like they were actually professionals 👀
Joe Williams well even the bloke who was dealing with the equipment was stood there with a fag in his mouth x that’s our tax payers money x hope your keeping OK Joe xxxx
Won’t make any difference. And to say it’ll be better to do it during the school summer break is laughable. Do they think we all take that time off? There’s no caravans heading to the country park, race track? Beach? Etc. clueless! Getting rid of the lights will help far more. Maybe a mini roundabout?
No
Just wasting more money Again
I can’t believe they think this will make a bloody difference… Just take away those god damn lights!! Ever since they have been installed, shits got out of hand.
If they go ahead with painting the road enough to fit a few cars the road will still be clogged up resulting in endless traffic to North doc like it is now!! Come up with another solution!
Simply make tge side road 1 way they can go in the far end on mini roundabout
Stop digging it up may help
Just stop the right turn n bobs your uncle
No Right turn at the lights, down to roundabout (Burry Port direction) put in a one way system and only left turn leaving the lights at Sandy when coming from the coop direction
Well i must say Cyngor Sir Gâr – Carmarthenshire County Council have done a fantastic job wasting my council and road tax,what a complete bunch of wankers?
For many years people have been saying to temporary turn off the lights as a experiment and the Council have not listened to the people. They are willing now to use tax payers money on a scheme that may not even work. Is there any consultancy documents available for the public to view. The decision makers need to be held to account prior to any changes taking place.
Magic paint, is it?
I can get this job dun for £550,000 can I tender for this.
Chris Price That is a good point Chris Price where and how did they legally send it out to tender. We need to see the Tender documents etc.
Road works and Building works are the biggest corruption for backhanders to council officials in Local Government
Chris Price I will do it for £540.000 lol
Paul Edwards that be a tough one to beat 🤣🤣
Narrow the kerbs.more danger on the pavement
When scarlets were playing there was hundreds of cars coming out on the road .filter the cars out onto the main road there was no problems at all .when the site was built .someone knew somebody in the council to get lights put there so the site could have easy acess onto main road defo😈😈😈😈😈 take the lights away the only way forward 👍👍👍
Nope
This road was never meant to carry this volume of traffic – should have run a bypass road west behind the houses where the steelworks was.
Get rid of the traffic lights clue is in the name TRAFFIC lights duh no right turn up to the roundabouts spin around job done or is that just to easy
No remove bloody light