Work is due to start next year on the A477 St. Clears to Red Roses improvement.

The 8.7km scheme will bypass the villages of Llanddowror and Red Roses, cross the River Hydfron and pass through several environmentally sensitive areas, including the Taf Valley.

The scheme will greatly improve the alignment of the road, raise safety standards and improve journey times and journey time reliability.

The Welsh Assembly Government has appointed SRB Civil Engineering as the contractor for the scheme.

The company is formed from a joint venture partnership between two of Ireland's leading civil engineering contractors, John Sisk and Son and Roadbridge. They are supported by engineering and environmental consultant Gifford.

The project team is currently developing the preferred route to preliminary design stage.

It is planned that a public exhibition of the proposal will be held this autumn.

If a public enquiry is needed, it would take place in spring 2011, with the two-year construction period expected to start in autumn 2011.