The shadow A55 toll that must be paid every year and is costing taxpayers millions
The charge is paid by the Welsh Government for every vehicle that travels across a stretch of the dual carriageway but the amount paid out this year has dipped dramatically.
Building work began in 1998 was completed in March 2001 under a controversial Private Finance Initiative (PFI) which sees the Welsh Government paying a “shadow toll” to UK Highways A55 Ltd for every vehicle using the dual carriageway. The 30-year contract, arranged by the UK Labour before devolution in 1999, for the maintenance and operation of the road runs until December 2028.
UK Highways A55 Ltd also operates and maintains the road along with a further six mile section of existing trunk road between Llanfairpwll and Bangor.
In its latest accounts filed last month the Kent-based company reports its profit after tax for the year was £808,000. In the previous year the profit after tax was £4.152 million.
In 2021 the Welsh Government paid shadow tolls of £14.9 million to UK Highways. The previous year the sum of £16.83 million was paid.
The company's annual report states traffic levels began to drop in mid-March 2020.
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