ACTION has been promised to improve a stretch of main road through Flintshire.

Ten accidents have been recorded on the section of the A494 spanning from Ewloe to Garden City since the beginning of November.

And the collisions have occurred despite the stretch having a 50mph speed limit imposed on it last summer.

Since the start of February Traffic Wales has tweeted at least 14 times about congestion on this stretch during rush hours.

All 10 collisions since the beginning of November have been either before 10am or between 4pm and 6pm.

The Leader asked regular users for their thoughts on this stretch of the A494.

Some people believe the 50mph limit, which was brought in primarily to reduce CO2 emissions, has had a detrimental effect.

Steven Sanders said: “The speed limit too low. It would be a lot safer at 70mph.”

Christian Rich added: “You’ve got people slowing down to observe the 50mph limit, then those flying up behind doing 70mph or 80mph.

“It would be safer left at 70mph.”

Mike Chare explained: “Installing a 50mph limit and distant markers along this stretch has made most drivers adhere to the limit.

“Unfortunately others are driving below 50mph, concentrating on their own speed and distance too much.

“This makes drivers overtake into outside lane where certain drivers are doing 70mph plus.”

Other people have blamed the volume of traffic, especially during rush hour.

Brian Charlton said the “traffic density and people travelling too close together” was the main reason for the spate of collisions.

Tony Whitehead added: “It’s because of the lack of run on and run off slip roads at Old Aston Hill and Lower Aston Hall Lane.

“Drivers pulling off have to slow right down to a crawl and get hit from behind, or cars swerving to avoid collide with cars using the right hand lane.

“And then drivers pulling on get so frustrated at the volume of traffic that they just put their foot down at the slightest gap they see and hope for the best, again causing the same hazards, either getting hit from behind or cars swerving all over the place to avoid.”

Keith Williams jokingly asked: “Where’s the ‘Arrive Alive Van’ when you want one?”

Ken Skates, Welsh Government cabinet secretary for economy and transport, told the Leader in December: “In the coming years we will look at progressing the Flintshire corridor scheme, relieving congestion on the A494, A55 and addressing problems there.

“We will undertake work on the Queensferry bridge and we aim to bring that project forward as soon as we possibly can to relieve congestion there and any structural issues.”

A Welsh Government spokesman added: “Our proposals will improve safety, capacity and journey times as well as ease traffic congestion and strengthen the road network’s resilience.

“Both of these routes are part of the resilience study we are currently carrying out looking at short, medium and long-term options to improve the travel experience and minimise the frequency and impact of incidents and breakdowns.

“Ensuring the safety and reliability of the road network will always be the number one priority and we will continue to monitor these routes and address safety issues when necessary.

“It has to be remembered that thousands of vehicles use the A494 and A55 on a daily basis and motorists must also take responsibility for their actions on the road.”