Page "A40 road" Paragraph 14

There were plans in 2002 for a major improvement of the 23-mile stretch between Haverfordwest and St Clears, which included the stretch to be upgraded to a dual carriageway.

This was described as an extension to the M4 motorway network to the West Wales Coast, by virtue of it being a dual carriageway from the M4 motorway via the A48.

The £ 60 million scheme was subject to a European Environmental Assessment.

Within a couple of years, the project appeared to be dying a very quiet death, causing local newspapers to report it being an election stunt for the two marginal constituencies that would best benefit from the improvements.

The following Welsh elections saw both constituencies change the party of majority.

The political party at the centre of the row instead directed the project deferment to damning environmental statements by Friends of the Earth Cymru.

The scheme was officially scrapped in 2008 after a Welsh Assembly committee decided to abandon the proposals.

Instead, it recommended upgrades to the existing route including bypasses around Robeston Wathen and Llanddewi Velfrey using a three-lane option.

This was welcomed by the Friends of the Earth, saying " The dual carriageway on the A40 would increase traffic levels, increase the emission of greenhouse gases, it would be harmful for the environment, it would be hugely expensive.

That money would be better spent on improving public transport, on health, on education, there's no need for it.

We think the assembly committee has come to the right decision ".