If a bridge between Scotland and Ireland is feasible, is a decent road across Wales too much to ask?

I agree, be fantastic to have a North/South link. As usual us in Wales get left behind, HS2 to link southern England to northern England, a link between Scotland and Ireland, (is this the unionists trying to turn the head of those who want Irish unity and Scottish Independence) and meanwhile they don't gave a hoot about us in Wales. Is this because they think they have nothing to fear ? The only way to make Westminster sit up and take notice is for all of us to put Wales (and so ourselves) first ! If you live in Wales surely you must see that the only way to make things better is by voting for Wales first and not the union. At least be indy curious, challenge youself ! You may find you'll then become indy confident ANNIBYNIAETH I GYMRU

"It’s fine therefore to argue for a train – if it came alongside huge investment in public transport in mid-Wales that made it a viable alternative to the car." Let's argue for this then. Better buses so you can get to the train stations at times that coincide with the trains. Connect the west with a line from Aberystwyth to Carmarthen then you can go up the east or the west, no need for a totally new line through the middle.

I'm all for better infrastructure in Wales, particularly benefitting Mid and North Wales (I live in Cardiff). However the discussion has to take place in Wales. For decades the threat of the new M4 motorway across the Gwent Levels chuntered on, vigorously opposed by environmentalists. Finally Mark Drakeford made the decision to prevent the road going ahead, and instead indicated the importance of better public transport for the region to reduce the pressure on the motorway. Less than a year later, Johnson gets elected and moots the idea of this road being built once more putting the cat amongst the pigeons. I have gone from Indy-indifferent to Indy-curious in a couple of years, and I know I'm not alone!

Ifan, would you build a bridge where thousands of tons of redundant WW1 & 2 ammunition, including chemical warfare ammunition, mainly German (no one knows exactly how much and where this rubbish was dumped) more worryingly is the unknown amount of nuclear waste has also been dumped here. For those unfamiliar with the North Channel where the reason for dumping here was the existence of the very deep 'Beaufort Trench'. I think that grandiose schemes like this are a throwback to the Victorian's who had a notion that they could build anything, remember The Tay Bridge and while just outside Victoria's reign I would include The Titanic. Both the result of puffed-up egos and poor knowledge of the properties of materials including iron and steel. I'll stick to the ferry thank you very much.

Interesting article and it summarises neatly the poverty of our existing transport infrastructure, road and rail. However I don't want Wales' infrastructure needs featuring on Bunter's giant fib list, because believe me it's all hot air designed to maintain interest while he goes ahead with his plan to further enrich the stinking rich and leave the rest of us well behind, out of sight. He may press on with HS2 if the contracts are heading to companies that are on side with his grand scams ( or schemes if you are blindly loyal). In due course that will experience huge cost overruns beyond those currently envisaged and he will have pissed off much of his traditional voter base ( which is the only other factor that comes close to rivalling his "chums" in influencing his decision making). As for the bridge over that channel, well the reasons against are well documented but again it illustrates his lack of regard for those he thinks he can con.

As an Ulsterman from the Unionist tradition I'll put my money on a united Ireland before a Boris Bridge. Despite his fondness for Hi-Viz jackets and hard hats he knows that he can't afford it if he hopes to hold on to his recent converts in the English Midlands and North.

It's a NIMBY issue, not an infrastructure issue.

How about a car transporter train I could drive on in the south and off in the north. Of course, a decent fast rail route might be handy. I also dreamed about a scissors rail plan: Chepstow to Holyhead and Chester to Milford Haven, crossing at Machynlleth which should be our capital

I don't begrudge HS2 - England needs that infrastructure, its 20 or 30 years late though.... What we need is rail infrastructure devolved and Barnnatised so we can benefit too, 6billion would go a long way to improving North South and East West connections, including electrification of the main lines to the ports, reopening the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth Line, and improving the A470 - We will not get it though - the only way to secure proper investment in our infrastructure is independence.

I would support the main principles of Ifan's article. Living in South West Wales requiring regular travel up to North Wales raises the issue of upgrading the A487 particularly between Cardigan and Aberystwyth. Upgrading would require a number of three way lanes to allow overtaking and perhaps a few by passes of the eighteen villages between these two towns. I have raised this matter with the Welsh Government with very little support. There view is that the Strategic Transport Plan for Wales decides the priorities. If we want any transport improvements between North and South we need to start lobbying our AM's etc.

Absolutely. Get off the A55 and the roads fizzle out to dirt tracks and dangerously windy traffic-congested disgraces. Johnson's vanity project could give us decent road which don't destroy our cars. The A55 could easily be extended down to Aberystwyth, with the M4 extended in the other direction to meet it, giving us an excellent road network on the west coast. The motorway which ends near Shrewsbury could be extended to Aber, making the whole of Wales easily accessible for everyone, boosting our economy and not just for the tourists! HS2 and Bojo's bridge both need cancelling, and the infrastructure which is already failing, fixing.

In the not too distant future there may be AI driven vehicles capable of safely negotiating even the windiest roads at speeds only limited by passenger comfort. That might mean improved drive-times even if (as is likely) no money can be found for N-S road improvements. A tech fix for political remoteness may be harder to find.

I drove from Wrexham to Milford Haven earlier this year and was struck at how much better the roads were, compared to the last time I did a similar trip a few years ago. European money has made the difference, from the signs I saw.

Im sorry but not a good idea it would damage the welsh language its a natural barrier and should remain that way.

This is baaaaaaaaarmy

Agree with the general idea - and a straighter, safer road would be good. However I think that this is the wrong focus for answering the right question. We need to better connect Wales north-south, but in a sustainable way for the 21st century. It's good that you try to address the issues around climate and nature but I think this misses some points. Firstly, the idea that north-south rail wouldn't benefit people in rural mid Wales much is based on the assumption that it sits in isolation. That 'last leg' of the journey doesn't have to mean someone goes by car the whole way. People living within a few miles can often walk or cycle. In many other cases, local buses can be the answer, or taxis. In some cases it might be a 'park and ride' solution. Let's not write this idea off before it's been explored fully. And I say that as someone who grew up in Powys, has used the Heart of Wales line and the T4 buses. On nature, the idea that you can simply 'offset' damage by rewilding is, I believe, flawed. Look at the examples of the Cardiff Bay Barrage where this approach didn't make up for the environment lost. I'm not saying you can't build anything, but this really should be a last resort. In fact we need protection of existing sites AND nature restoration to fix the nature crisis in Wales.