THE WELSH Government (WG) is looking to erect nine metre-high air quality barriers along the A494 in Deeside.

The WG intends to submit a planning application for the installation of three barriers on the A494 between the Queensferry Interchange Junction and St David’s Park Interchange Junction.

The barriers are proposed to compliment the already established 50mph speed limit to further reduce people's exposure to air pollution in the area. The impacts of the barriers on air quality are estimated to reduce roadside concentrations of NO2 between 2 and 4.4 micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) per cubic meter - which equates to roughly 11 per cent reductions.

The Leader: An exmaple of an air quality barrier. An exmaple of an air quality barrier.

The scheme would be subject to three separate sites. 

Barrier 1 would be 430m in length, the second is proposed to be approximately 70m and the third would be 200m long.

Site 1 – South of the Croft, Queensferry, located in the northbound verge, south of the properties along The Croft.

Site 2 - South of Holly Grove, Shotton, located in the northbound verge, south of the properties and The Plough Inn along Aston Road.

Site 3 – South of Aston Road, Shotton, located in the northbound verge, west of the properties along Aston Road. 

READ MORE: Figures show number of motorists caught speeding on A494 and A483 50mph zones

WG planning documents state: "The addition of barriers presents a physical barrier to air movement between source and receptor, reducing roadside exposure to pollution without reducing emissions.

"Driver exposure to pollution, inside the barriers, has the potential to increase, although the exposure duration on the road is limited. Installation of barriers would result in no net change in overall emissions, over and above what would be achieved through reducing the speed limit." 

If the plans are progressed, the WG said there will be increased volumes of traffic and noise levels during the barriers' construction period.