Work is due to start next year on the latest improvement to one of the main links between the M4 and Pembrokeshire.

The six-mile St Clears to Red Roses bypass will run to the north of the villages of Llanddowror and Red Roses.

Not only will it improve road quality and journey times, but it will improve the quality of life for the communities and raise safety standards.

The bypass will begin just west of the St Clears roundabout and rejoin the existing A477 road at Llanteg, east of the notorious Red Roses junction which has been the scene of a number of accidents.

The preferred route of the bypass was announced in November 2006, and the Welsh Assembly Government has now 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 & 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, and 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.

Gifford director Steven Chewins said: "This is an extremely exciting opportunity to develop an important European route through a very environmentally-sensitive area."