A MAJOR milestone in the construction of the £136 million Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass has been reached, as work on two viaducts begins.

Steel erection has got underway on the bridge decks of the two viaducts which are a key part of the scheme.

The site team from Balfour Beatty and Jones Bros have continued throughout the Covid 19 pandemic with strict control measures in place to protect the workforce.

The Welsh Government is investing £135m in the scheme which is one of the largest infrastructure projects currently underway in North Wales. The 9.8km bypass will run from the Goat roundabout on the A499/A487 junction to the Plas Menai roundabout around Llanwnda, Dinas, Bontnewydd and Caernarfon.

The bridges are due to be completed in August 2021.

The scheme will improve travel times, reduce congestion and improve air quality on local roads, and lead to more opportunities for active travel.

One of the viaducts will span the Afon Gwyrfai to the west of Bontnewydd and the other will cross the Afon Seiont. Over the past few weeks steel beams have been delivered to the site and construction of the viaduct decks is now underway.

The Afon Gwyrfai viaduct will be six metres above the flood plain and 260 metres long while the Afon Seiont viaduct will run 21 metres above the river and is 148 metres long.

The construction of the bypass is also bringing economic benefits to the region with 93 per cent of the workforce from North Wales. Local suppliers have benefited from the contract having received 85 per cent of the material orders.

Ken Skates, Minister for Transport and North Wales said: “I am pleased to see the progress on the bypass. When complete it will deliver a real difference to the local community, removing congestion and improving air quality.

“We must also remember it is not only the finished product which will make a difference. Throughout the construction phase there are benefits for the local community through the supply chain and employment and training opportunities.”

Jon Muff, structures lead for the joint venture, said: “We’ve made excellent progress this year having completed the foundations and piers for the two bridges and it’s now great to see the beams being lifted into place as we programmed. Two specialist lifting cranes, one which can lift 500 tonnes, are being used to undertake these complex beam lifting operations.”