Hereford has 'no resilience' if A49 closes and it needs bypass and new bridge
Hereford MP Jesse Norman says a new eastern crossing is a 'tremendous' opportunity - but a western bypass is still needed
Hereford’s MP has shared his concerns about what would happen if Greyfriars Bridge has to close due to damage.
The bridge, which is more than 60 years old, carries the main A49 over the river Wye – a major route for through traffic from North to South Wales as well as shorter, inner-city journeys.
But if that bridge were to close, it would lead to traffic chaos with no other suitable alternative in the city, with the only other route being the single-lane Old Bridge.
Jesse Norman, Conservative MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, said the city has “no resilience”, so another new bridge is needed – and he supports both a western bypass and an eastern river crossing from Rotherwas to Ledbury Road.
But the bypass was axed by the last council administration, with the Greens and Independents saying it wouldn’t ease Hereford’s traffic woes as it would just open up more land for housing.
But those for the project say it would take through traffic, including lorries, away from the city centre.
The new council – where the Conservatives hold the most seats – want to put the bypass back on the table, but Mr Norman said that’s going to be a “slow, long-term process”.
I think on the eastern side there is a tremendous opportunity to build an eastern link road.
“And I've always said we needed two bridges strategy alongside the current Greyfriars Bridge, not least because if Greyfriars Bridge has a problem, we've got no resilience.”
“Traffic is difficult enough in Hereford as it is. So, I think we should be going both sides of the river and both sides of the current bridge.”
He said an eastern river crossing could be built quicker and cheaper than a bypass, with the previous council saying it was possible by the end of the decade.
“If and when the council can get the western bypass, which is a proper bypass going from the A49 to the A49 and allowing us to de-trunk the road in the middle of the city and join the city back up together again, up and running, then all the better.”