Arguments about the rights and wrongs of building the planned £1bn M4 ‘relief road’ at Newport are ignoring one crucial fact: Wales must significantly improve its infrastructure for its communities to thrive and businesses to prosper in a global market. But worse than that, the arguments reveal a lack of vision and short sightedness about the Wales we want.

Politicians and rival advisors will be drawn into debates about the routes or the allocation of funding to the north or south of Wales. Those debates need to be had, but whilst they rumble on it is worth remembering that Welsh engineers have been regenerating areas of the country and opening up congested regions with new roads and exciting projects for many years now.

What’s more, many such projects have faced criticism, concern, anger and uncertainty during their years of planning and implementation. But in recent years, and highlighted by the recent CEW Awards, road improvement schemes such as the A465, A477, A470 and A487 have overcome environmental concerns and community worries to deliver landmark projects in every respect.

Further back in history infrastructure such as the Second Severn Crossing, the Millennium Stadium and the Cardiff Bay Barrage have provided huge economic benefits. Each scheme provoked debate. Each had its critics. But each one also had their champions, people with a vision for Wales. And each has created growth and opportunity, demonstrating that infrastructure investment reaps greater rewards.

All these examples relied on a compelling vision and were supported by world class infrastructure delivery in Wales. Right now the UK is viewed by the world as a major construction expert. The London Olympics and Crossrail (currently on BBC TV and showcasing Welsh tunnelers and engineers each Wednesday) prove the point. As illustrated at the recent CEW Awards, Wales consistently performs alongside the rest of the UK construction industry: one might even argue that we lead the world in some areas. So, faced with a relief road, a tunnel or a river to span, Welsh engineers, designers and builders have the skills and the vision to deliver world class infrastructure. Indeed, the ICE, ACE and CECA are all backing a bolder vision for Wales.

The reticence over the M4 relief road proves that infrastructure investment is fraught with uncertainty. But as we come out of recession, we should be thinking far bigger. The Minister is to be congratulated for challenging us with the M4 announcement, because as an industry we will use our world class skills to deliver a solution that Wales will be proud of for generations to come and ensure that a £1bn investment will provide the economic stimulus for all our citizens.

What’s more it is just one example of what we should be providing for Wales. Better construction processes, collaborative procurement and educated clients means projects can be more efficient. Hence the conviction of engineers like Geoff Ogden at ACE that Wales should also electrify the railways and create world class projects such as infrastructure works in Newtown (mid Wales), Bontnewydd (north Wales), the Tidal Lagoon in Swansea, and the nuclear power station at Wylfa in Anglesey to attract investment, tourism and regenerate our communities – locally, regionally and nationally. CECA Wales led by Rhodri Jones is supporting Jane Hutt and backing the Wales Infrastructure Group to drive major project delivery in Wales; Keith Jones of the ICE Wales has stated that Welsh people need and deserve full motorway access into Wales.

We cannot accept the status quo. Wales needs excellent infrastructure. Wales needs improved transport links, such as full motorway access into Wales, widespread electrification and an improved regional transport system in South Wales.

We must think big and be ambitious because these projects can be built and will create stimulus for the country. Without vision and without engineers we would not have had a 2010 Ryder Cup, certainly no Cardiff Bay or Conwy Tunnel.