MORE than £30 million could be spent to make the A483 running through Wrexham more environmentally friendly.

An in-depth Welsh Government report suggests approving further enforcement of the 50mph speed limit on the A483, following a trial period which has curbed the speed on that major road in both directions since June.

The published report entitled 'Consideration of Measures on the Welsh Government Motorway and Trunk Road Network for Nitrogen Dioxide Reduction' says work is now ongoing to install the infrastructure and procedures for the speed limit to be enforced effectively.

A table in the report outlines three measures which the Welsh Government could take in a bid to reduce pollution on the road.

It recommends spending £275,000 for speed limit reduction as a 'likely measure' ,to include average speed enforcement cameras and equipment, traffic signs and ongoing maintenance.

In a section looking at 'Precautionery Retained Measures', the report gives an option for spending £30m on Air Quality Barriers, in addition to the speed reduction, between Junction 5 (Mold Road interchange) to Junction 6 (Gresford interchange).

It states: "£30m for barriers, which could be provided along many sections between junctions 5 and 6, although there are sections that would be excluded due to the presence of retaining walls, structures and narrow

embankments.

"To include design and installation of the barriers and required changes to existing infrastructure including traffic signs, safety barriers, street lighting, of which there are significant numbers in both verges."

Earlier this year plans were put in place to restrict part of the A483 past Wrexham to 50mph, citing environmental reasons.

The temporary speed limit was introduced in June. However the Government has accepted that for the speed limit to be fully effective, more permanent measures need to be put in place.

It is also estimated that implementing a permanent 50mph speed limit on the A494 study corridor would cost in the region of £275,000. This cost would include average speed enforcement cameras and equipment, traffic signs and ongoing maintenance.

The report mentions that before the implementation of any permanent speed limits, there will be a significant communications campaign made on the likely measures using social media, radio and signs on the network. Key announcements made on the air quality results.

The above measures are listed as 'likely' in the report, with the erection of three metre high pollution barriers being listed as precautionary retained measures, depending on the timescale forconstruction.

The report states that all 'likely measures' will be fully implemented by the end of 2019, but that more work will be carried out to see if the Air Quality Barriers are needed.

It adds: "Further work is required to assess the design feasibility of the Air Quality Barriers in the location identified."