Years after a study was commissioned on a section of the A48 in Carmarthenshire, the Welsh Government has confirmed plans for major alterations
Emergency services at the scene of a crash on the A48 near Cross Hands (Image: Adrian White)
Huge changes, including the construction of a new roundabout, are set to be implemented on a notoriously dangerous dual carriageway in West Wales that has seen hundreds of crashes in recent years.
The A48 between Carmarthen and Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire has long been considered an accident hotspot, with alarming figures revealing just how bad the situation has been for more than a decade. The stretch of road – measuring around 12.5 miles – saw six crashes in one day back in 2018.
There were almost 900 crashes on the road (including an extra four mile stretch east of Cross Hands which connects to the M4 at Pont Abraham) over a 10-year period up to the summer of 2018, with one Carmarthenshire councillor labelling parts of the carriageway “a disgrace” and claiming that “the whole section of the A48 should be investigated”. Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter.
More recently, statistics have shown that safety on the road is actually getting worse.
Data released by Dyfed-Powys Police via a freedom of information (FOI) request made last year showed there were 186 collisions between Pensarn Roundabout in Carmarthen and Pont Abraham Roundabout during the 12-month period between the start of August 2024 and the end of July 2025.
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A previous FOI revealed that 169 crashes took place on the same stretch during an earlier 12-month period, meaning there was actually an increase in the number of collisions despite the Welsh Government promising that action would be taken to make the road safer for motorists.
The government commissioned a WelTAG (Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance) study into the safety of the A48 between Pensarn in Carmarthen and Cross Hands (including Cross Hands Roundabout) in March 2020.
Now, six years on, detailed plans have been revealed which outline the scale of the works to be carried out in a bid to make the road safer.
According to a document published by the Welsh Government this week: “The A48 corridor between Cross Hands and Pensarn is part of the key link between the M4 and west Wales.
“WelTAG studies have identified a number of unsuitable junction layouts in relation to the high-speed nature of the road which have the potential for collision.
“In addition, sub-standard public transport infrastructure and poor active travel provision were identified within the study area. These problems are concerns for the Welsh Government, the South Wales Trunk Road Agent and Carmarthenshire Council.”
The changes being planned “will primarily improve safety for road users along the A48 through the closure of gaps in the central reservation and the closure of six sub-standard laybys (four eastbound, two westbound) along the A48 Pensarn to Cross Hands corridor to reduce the risk of potential future incidents at the identified locations”.
Work to implement the changes will begin in the autumn/winter of this year, with an anticipated timeframe of four months for the works to be completed.
The amendments to be made to the A48 are outlined below:
Llanddarog
- Implementing a bus only right turn lane from the eastbound carriageway and restricting right turn movements out of the junction through a traffic island. This restriction will be managed by enforcement cameras
Pantyffynnon
- Restricting the right turn movement out of the Pantyffynnon junction through traffic island and central reservation modifications
Llanarthne
- Closure of the central reserve and modification of the side road traffic island to restrict right turn movements in and out of the junction
Foelgastell
- Closure of the central reserve and modification of the side road traffic island to restrict right turn movements in and out of the junction
Maesybont
- Closure of the central reserve and modification of the side road traffic island to restrict right turn movements in and out of the junction, as well as amendments to the existing Public Right of Way crossing
Layby Closures
- The plan is to close six laybys (four eastbound, two westbound) along the A48 because they are “sub-standard“. In the map above, eastbound laybys are shown by the blue pin, with westbound laybys shown in red
In addition to the measures outlined above, the biggest change to the A48 could see the construction of a new roundabout on the A48 in the Nantycaws area.
This would be necessary, according to the Welsh Government’s study, because of a “potential safety concern” and the need for motorists to currently perform an “unsafe cross carriageway manoeuvre” at Nantycaws.
According to the safety study: “It has been acknowledged by stakeholders and the Roads Review panel that there is a potential safety concern to address within the Nantycaws area, and a measure to provide a turning point at this location facilitates a more comprehensive safety programme across the corridor.
“In addition, a change in Welsh Government’s waste policy means that some changes are required to waste operations within Carmarthenshire, which has created an opportunity for green infrastructure development at the Cwm Environmental Resource and Energy Centre. This also forms part of the case for continuing to seek solutions for a road measure at Nantycaws.”
Multiple options are being considered to improve safety on this stretch of the A48, with the preferred option being the construction of a central roundabout which would provide access to the Cwm Environmental site, a local filling station and cafe, and Nantycaws itself.
An image of the proposal can be seen below.
If a new roundabout is created on the A48 at Nantycaws it would be supplemented by a revised and lower speed limit on approach. What that speed limit would be has not been confirmed, but the rest of the carriageway is expected to maintain its national speed limit of 70mph.
Whereas work to implement the wider changes to the A48 is expected to start later this year and be completed in early 2027, the proposals for the changes at Nantycaws are not as imminent.
In the study, the Welsh Government said: “The next steps for Nantycaws include undertaking ecological surveys and environmental assessments to inform continued design development of the preferred option, supported by further traffic modelling.
“Subject to funding, commencing Detailed Design later in the 26/27 financial year, including identification of third-party land requirements, utility liaison, ground investigations and wider consultation/engagement.
“Preparation of tender package, land acquisition and construction would follow in 27/28 & 28/29, subject to funding.”
Ken Skates, The Welsh Government’s cabinet secretary, said on Wednesday: “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.”
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