DRIVERS have criticised the poor state of the main A484 road between Cardigan and Carmarthen.

Traffic lights and roadworks are a regular feature on the 27-mile route, a main north-south artery in west Wales, and one regular commuter says it is no longer “fit for purpose”.

Highways officials acknowledge there are problems and are promising “significant investment”.

“As one of the major roads in the area, it really is getting beyond a joke,” said the disgruntled driver, who does not wish to be named.

“It seems every time you drive up and down it, fresh traffic lights appear. The stretch between Cenarth and Newcastle Emlyn is in a particularly bad state of repair – cracked and crumbling, with potholes – and it seems to be getting worse.

“To be honest, the rest of the road is not much better and it’s a pretty sorry state of affairs. It needs major investment.”

Twenty-one-year-old Newcastle Emlyn man Corey Sharpling was killed following a landslide on the A484 at Cwmduad during Storm Callum back in 2018.

The road is not classified as a trunk road and is therefore the responsibility of the local authorities.

Cllr Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member for environment, said: “An extensive programme of works is planned along the A484 from Carmarthen to Newcastle Emlyn.

“We will be investing significantly to improve this stretch of road, and will be communicating information about these works very soon. We thank regular users of this route for their patience and cooperation.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The A484 is not a trunk road and is therefore managed by Carmarthenshire Council.

“We provide funding to local authorities to improve transport infrastructure. This includes an additional £20m for road refurbishment every year in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21.”

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards said: "I have looked into this matter as this road is a major supply route in the county.

"I have been informed that a number of assessments have been undertaken along the road including two sections of the road having received improvement works recently.

"My understanding is that several sections of the road are planned to be addressed in a further phase of works.

"I have asked to be kept informed on progress."