ACTIVE travel links, bus provision and road improvement projects in Mid Wales are set to benefit from a share of £78 million of funding from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund.

Transport Secretary Ken Skates has announced £78 million of additional funding for local transport projects in Wales as part of the Local Transport Fund.

The funding, which has been given the green light by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford, will be broken down into £26 million instalments over the next three financial years from 2018/19 onwards.

All 22 local authorities in Wales who made bids for funding to the Welsh Government, with a total of 82 applications totalling £34 million, will receive an allocation from the additional in-year funding.

More than 60 projects will either be partially or fully funded during the remainder of 2018/19, with these schemes also providing an additional £7.2million in match funding.

Welsh Government has worked with local authorities to ensure schemes provide good value for money and meet transport and economic priorities.

Projects that will benefit from the Local Transport Fund via the additional allocations in 2018-19 include the A4119 Corridor Improvement Phase 2D (Strategic Bus Priority and Interchange) in Cardiff with £554,000, Cross Hands Link Road in Carmarthenshire with £1,685,000 and the Deeside Industrial Park Walking and Cycling Links with £1,008,000.

Projects in Mid Wales that will benefit from additional funding include:

• Ceredigion, Bow Street interchange to Plas Gogerddan active travel link, £52,000

• Powys, Quality Bus Provision, £1,550,000

• Ceredigion, T2/T5 West Wales TrawsCymru Corridor Improvements, £150,000

• Ceredigion, Ceredigion Western Coastal Corridor Highways Improvement Package, £36,000

• Powys, General Powys upgrades, £260,000

A number of other potential projects under development that could require funding support this financial year will be considered in January 2019.

Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: “I’m delighted that a host of transport projects across Wales will be allocated funding from the Local Transport Fund.

“These schemes have the potential to make a massive difference to people’s everyday lives, with improvements to transport networks, infrastructure and cycle lanes making it easier to choose active and sustainable travel.

“These projects support our ambitions to provide a modern and connected transport infrastructure, whilst further boosting our efforts to encourage healthy and active lifestyles.

“This funding could also prove a shot in the arm to the Welsh economy by making it easier for people to travel for both business and leisure.”

Powys projects receiving additional funding include: General Powys upgrades £260,000; Powys Quality Bus Provision, £1,550,000.