Alterations are set to be made to a busy dual carriageway which connects the M4 with west Wales
The scene of a crash on the A48 between Carmarthen and Cross Hands
There are mixed views on ambitious plans to transform one of Wales’ most dangerous roads – with concerns raised about “disruption, delays and congestion” should proposals to construct a new roundabout get the go-ahead.
Wales Online reported earlier this week that substantial works are set to be carried out on a 12.5-mile section of the A48 in Carmarthenshire between Pensarn Roundabout in Carmarthen and Cross Hands Roundabout. The stretch has long been complained about as an accident hotspot, with recent figures proving that the number of collisions is on the increase despite repeated promises that action will be taken.
The Welsh Government actually commissioned a study looking at safety measures on the road six years ago, in 2020, and this week some of the findings – and measures to tackle the number of collisions – were confirmed. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here.
They include the closure of gaps in the central reservation along the A48, the closure of six sub-standard laybys, the creation of a bus-only lane at one junction, and restrictions on right-hand turns.
Currently, motorists are able to legally turn right and cross over both the westbound (heading towards Carmarthen) and eastbound (heading towards Cross Hands, Pont Abraham and the M4) carriageways, despite the presence of oncoming traffic.
Work on those changes is expected to start later this year, but looking further ahead, the biggest alteration to the road layout could see the construction of a new roundabout in the Nantycaws area, creating new turn-offs for a filling station and cafe, a recycling and landfill site, and Nantycaws itself – a residential area which sits adjacent and parallel to the dual carriageway.
Many people have welcomed the news, claiming something has to be done to make the road safer. However, others fear the impact the changes could have.
One person said on social media: “The closure of central reservation gaps makes sense but why the bus-only lane? This only increases congestion to benefit the occasional bus. Lunacy.”
Another said: “Roundabouts are a good idea to control speeders. Surely 50mph average speed cameras would be feasible too?”
One motorist wrote: “Anybody who’s been to Nantycaws tip will understand the reasons for this. It can be really hard to get out. I’ve also nearly been taken out by a skip lorry heading out of there when heading east. Better to take a little longer than not make it at all…”
One person asked: “What do they need a bus lane for, other than [it being] another cash cow?”. This is probably in reference to a bus-only lane managed by Carmarthenshire Council – not the Welsh Government – at Trostre Roundabout in Llanelli which has resulted in thousands of motorists being handed fines for driving along it.
One woman said: “Right turns across the carriageway are dangerous and the slip roads from the junctions are too short,” while another motorist said: “They don’t need a roundabout. What they need is a proper junction with slip roads. Have a fly over to cross the dual so you can exit there to go to Nantycaws. You don’t need the Llanddarog exit anymore.”
Another wrote: “That stretch of road should have been a motorway – the M4 should have carried on through to Carmarthen. Another roundabout? Have you seen the chaos in Carmarthen during the summer?”
One motorist definitely doesn’t want to see a new roundabout constructed. He said: “No need for a roundabout, that will just be another bottleneck for everyone heading west on a Friday afternoon and east on a Sunday afternoon.
“All it needs is a well designed junction, slip roads and a fly over. The A465 Heads of the Valleys road has done away with roundabouts – Dowlais, Merthyr, Tredegar, Ebbw Vale and Black Rock are well designed junctions – such an improvement and always flowing traffic.”
Meanwhile, an independent candidate for the Caerfyrddin constituency in May’s Senedd election has said the A48 between Carmarthen and Cross Hands “deserves a serious, strategic fix, not years of disruption for a roundabout.
Carl Peters‑Bond said: “The solution to the dangerous A48 does not lie in years of construction, disruption and delays – only to leave us with even more congestion at a brand‑new roundabout at Nantycaws, right in the middle of a vital trunk route. That is not a serious long‑term plan for a road of national importance.
“Anyone who drives this stretch knows how heavily loaded these roundabouts already are. Adding another one at Nantycaws will not solve the problem – it will simply move it, and make the whole route slower and more dangerous.
“People deserve a transport system that works – not one that lurches from crisis to crisis. The A48 needs a proper, modern solution that reflects its importance to Carmarthenshire and west Wales.”
Ken Skates, The Welsh Government’s cabinet secretary, told Wales Online this week: “The A48 is a vital route connecting communities across Carmarthenshire, and these planned safety improvements are designed to reduce risk and improve conditions for everyone who uses the road, whether travelling by car, cycling or on foot.
“The proposals form a targeted package of safety measures, including changes to junction arrangements and the removal of sub‑standard laybys. While lane closures will be required during construction and some journeys may take longer, this short‑term disruption is necessary to deliver a safer and more resilient road for the future.”
The Welsh Government has said that a more detailed design for the roundabout project will commence later in 2026 or early in 2027, subject to funding, and that “preparation of a tender package, land acquisition and construction would follow in 2027/28 & 2028/29”, again subject to funding.
